Local Editor
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that the body’s human rights office in Yemen continues to document reports of civilian casualties as a result of the conflict, adding that over the past month, it has been able to verify a total of 49 civilian deaths.
During a Press briefing in Geneva, Shamdasani stated that between 21 May and 6 June, 19 civilians were killed in Taiz. While on 21 May, seven civilians were killed reportedly as a result of mortar attacks from areas controlled by fighters loyal to resigned President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
At least 23 civilians on 17 June were killed as a result of a Saud-led coalition airstrike, helicopter attack and shelling on a house and nearby market area located just a few hundred metres from the Yemen-Saudi border in Shada District in Saada Governorate.
According to Shamdasani “interviewees told our Yemen team that there was no prior warning of the attack.”
During the more than two years since the conflict in Yemen began, marketplaces have been struck a number of times, causing loss of civilian life.
The UN spokesperson urged all parties to the conflict to remember “their obligation to ensure full respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law.” She adds that “all incidents resulting in civilian casualties … must be thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability when breaches of international law have been found to have taken place.”
“The outbreak of cholera has affected eight prisons and detention centers in six governorates. Some 50 prisoners have contracted cholera and there are 72 other suspected cases,” Shamdasani said . “In the best of circumstances, prisoners are among the most vulnerable members of society. In the Yemeni context, this is even more so.”
She concluded that “since March 2015, the UN Human Rights Office has recorded a total of 13,504 civilian casualties, including 4,971 killed and 8,533 injured.”
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
