The Houthi movement should stop any use of landmines in Yemen since the explosives have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties in almost two years and prevented aid groups from helping those in need on the state's western coast, a prominent human rights group said in its report published on Monday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd April, 2019) The Houthi movement should stop any use of landmines in Yemen since the explosives have resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties in almost two years and prevented aid groups from helping those in need on the state's western coast, a prominent human rights group said in its report published on Monday.
"Houthi forces' widespread use of landmines along Yemen's western coast since mid-2017 has killed and injured hundreds of civilians and prevented aid groups from reaching vulnerable communities... The Houthi authorities should immediately cease using these weapons and credibly investigate and appropriately punish commanders responsible for their use," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.
HRW found that despite Yemeni law and the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty banning the use of all antipersonnel mines and anti-vehicle mines, Houthis have being using both indiscriminately. The explosives are usually placed in farmlands, villages, wells and roads, hindering farmers' ability to properly farm or get access to water. Moreover, at least 140 civilians, including 19 children, have been killed in the western Hodeida and Taizz provinces since 2018, the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project's data cited by HRW showed.
Witnesses told HRW that when the Houthis withdrew from areas it had previously controlled, they left behind landmines, thereby endangering civilians. Authorities in the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa told HRW in April 2017 that they considered the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty to be binding and reassured that any indiscriminate attack or use of prohibited weapons would be considered a war crime.
HRW also stressed in its report that the Houthis and allied forces had placed landmines in at least six provinces in Yemen after the Saudi Arabia-led coalition kicked off military operations against them in March 2015. The watchdog further stated that it had appealed to the Security Council, which has already imposed sanctions against the Houthi leaders, to take action against those responsible for mining as well as the coalition over its numerous unlawful attacks.
Yemen has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the government forces led by President Hadi and the Houthi Shia rebels for years. The Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at Hadi's request. The conflict has resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.
