DIAKONIA INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW CENTRE URGES ADHERENCE TO IHL AMID ESCALATING TENSIONS IN YEMEN
13 January 2024Arabic Statement
Alarmed by the intensifying tensions in Yemen, the Diakonia International Humanitarian Law Centre expresses concern and closely monitors the recent military escalation involving the United States and the United Kingdom on one side, and the non-state armed group Ansar Allah/Al-Houthi on the other.
We urgently call on all concerned parties to ensure that their actions, as a minimum, are strictly within the confines of international humanitarian law (IHL). IHL sets out clear rules aimed at limiting the human suffering caused by armed conflict. These rules are binding on all parties and apply to all armed conflicts. Violations of these rules committed by one party to an armed conflict do not exempt the opposing party from its obligations.
The following key IHL provisions are particularly relevant to the current situation:
- The parties must spare civilians and civilian objects. They must distinguish between the civilian population and combatants, as well as between civilian objects and military objectives. Military operations should be directed solely against military objectives.
- Civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools, must be spared from any military actions.
- Parties must continue to facilitate and allow humanitarian access within the country.
As the situation unfolds, we remain committed to monitoring developments closely and advocating for compliance with IHL.
For questions regarding this statement, please contact: syria-ihl@diakonia.se