The United Nations (UN) explained that the coalition under the leadership of Saudi has committed war crimes in Yemen.
The findings are detailed in a 41-page report published on Tuesday by the Group Experts, which was mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council to carry out a comprehensive examination of the human rights situation in the country.
In a particularly damning section of the report, the three experts said the Saudi-led coalition routinely failed to consult its own "no-strike list" of more than 30,000 sites in Yemen, including refugee camps and hospitals. They also said the Saudi air force had failed to cooperate with them about its targeting process.
Twenty-six children and four women lost their lives in air strikes by coalition forces led by Saudi in Hudeydah in Yemen while 40 children lost their lives in a bus school targeted by Saudi-led coalition warplanes in Sada area two weeks ago.
Among their conclusions, the experts say individuals in the Government of Yemen and the coalition, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and in the de facto authorities have committed acts that may, subject to determination by an independent and competent court, amount to international crimes.
The report notes that coalition air strikes have caused most direct civilian casualties. The airstrikes have hit residential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, detention facilities, civilian boats and even medical facilities. Based on the incidents they examined, the Group of Experts have reasonable grounds to believe that individuals in the Government of Yemen and the coalition may have conducted attacks in violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution that may amount to war crimes.
“There is little evidence of any attempt by parties to the conflict to minimize civilian casualties. I call on them to prioritize human dignity in this forgotten conflict,” said Kamel Jendoubi, chairperson of the Group of International and Regional Eminent Experts on Yemen.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, from March 2015 up to 23 August 2018, 6,660 civilians were killed and 10,563 injured; however, the real figures are likely to be significantly higher.
Years-long conflict in Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world, causing the humanitarian crisis in the country. Nearly three-quarters of the 27 million people in Yemen continue to live their lives in need of help.
ILKHA