Local Editor

Six months into a deadly conflict that has killed more than 2,100 civilians and created a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, Amnesty International [AI] criticized the United States and Britain for supporting Saudi Arabia’s military aggression against Yemen, saying that the Saudi kingdom is targeting and killing civilians in the Arab state by weapons produced in the US.

"The vast majority of civilian deaths and injuries have been caused by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition which is backed by the USA and the UK", Amnesty said.

"Coalition forces have also used banned cluster munitions, which are indiscriminate by nature, and have been found to be produced or designed in the USA", the organization further said. 

The Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International, James Lynch, said that, "Instead of providing logistical and military assistance to coalition forces that have committed serious violations, these influential members of the international community should seek to hold perpetrators of such violations to account".

The organization further said that, "Saudi Arabia along with other members of the military coalition fighting in Yemen and the government of Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi are attempting to block the establishment of a UN investigation into the conflict by the Human Rights Council".

According to Amnesty, "More than 2,100 civilians, including at least 400 children, have been killed in the conflict. Across the country, a desperate humanitarian crisis is escalating and more than 1.4 million people have been displaced from their homes".

Furthermore, Amnesty called on the UN Human Rights Council to "establish an investigation into violations of international humanitarian law and gross human rights abuses" in Yemen. 

Lynch said that, "With no end to this deadly conflict in sight and a spiralling humanitarian crisis, civilian suffering is at an all-time high. The international community must seize this moment to establish a credible, international inquiry that offers hope for accountability and justice for victims of serious violations and abuses in Yemen."

"It is time for the international community to stop turning its back on the victims of the crisis unfolding in Yemen and to take measures that will help end impunity, and send a clear message that perpetrators will be held to account. The first step towards that goal should be a thorough, impartial and independent investigation," said Lynch.

A Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States has been carrying out a military aggression on Yemen by launching airstrikes against the country since March 26. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the UN.