UN urges Yemen’s warring rivals to cease-fire, protect civilians
SANAA, Yemen (AA) – The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on Yemen’s warring rivals to extend a UN-brokered cease-fire and provide protection to civilians in the war-torn country.
“It is now just over a month since the expiry of a UN-mediated truce in Yemen that started on 2 April, and we are gravely concerned for the safety and security of civilians,” OHCHR spokesman Jeremy Laurance told reporters.
He said the OHCHR documented “loss of life and injuries from attacks and shelling on civilian areas.”
The spokesman called on Yemen’s warring parties “to facilitate the access of humanitarian relief organizations to populations in need and to facilitate civilian access to humanitarian and life-saving services.”
The Yemeni government and Houthi rebels failed to renew the UN-brokered cease-fire which, which ended on Oct. 2.
Yemen has been engulfed by violence since September 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.
A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in early 2015 to restore the government to power.
The eight-year conflict has created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with millions suffering from hunger.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
