Local Editor
SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties rated 2017 as a catastrophic year.
In its montly report, the Geneva based non-profit organization documented 1937 violations, included extra-legal killing, physical assaults violation to press freedom, arbitrary detention, unlawful confiscation, enforced displacement, and torture, perpetrated by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition air force, military formations and militias loyal to the resigned Yemeni regime.
The human rights organization also monitored and documented 450 killings of civilians during December, including 279 killed by Arab Coalition’s airstrikes; 88 in Taiz, 56 in Sa’da, 47 in Sana’a, 30 in Shabwa, 10 in Mareb, including 19 women. In addition to 11 civilians killed by militias affiliated to the resigned Hadi regime and 7 by an unknown group.
SAM organization has noticed the worrying increase in the violations against children during December, mainly in Sana’a and Hodiedah governorates, with child recruitment topping the list of violations, where the organization has received reports on child disappearance for their schools. SAM also, documented names of leaders, schools and camps mobilized to receive children in Ibb and Hajjah Governorates. Other violations of child rights included the killing of 84 children, and injuring of 74 others, due to the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes that targeted residential areas.
SAM organization has documented 74 violations against women, including 37 killings, and 30 injuries among women, in addition to the detention of two women and assault on one, also, displacement of a number of women in Al-Haima village, Taiz by Houthis militia.
In addition to the deteriorating humanitarian situation and displacement of thousands of families in Sa’da, Al-Jouf, Mareb and Taiz, a new case of displacement was reported in Al-Haima village in Taiz, where 362 families were displaced.
SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties condemned all crimes included in this report which are considered as gross violations of the international humanitarian law and human rights law. It also urged the UN and humanitarian organizations to provide immediate aids to the displaced civilians and to work to lift the blockade off Bilad Al-Wafi immediately and without conditions.
The on-profit organization also called on the Saudi-led coalition to avoid targeting civilians and to review its rules of combat in accordance with the international laws and conventions.
It also called on warring sides to spare children from ravages of war and called upon the international community to take serious stand against child recruitment which is increasing alarmingly.
Source: Yemenwatch
