The intensifying conflict in Yemen has elicited strong condemnation from United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. The escalating violence between the Houthi forces, the Yemeni government, and affiliated groups has significantly worsened the plight of civilians. Türk expressed his dismay over the increasing suffering and fear inflicted upon the civilian population and emphasized the imperative of ensuring their protection. “Civilians must never be targeted, and their protection must be the overriding priority,” he remarked, highlighting that many civilians have been forced to flee for their lives amid the latest surge in fighting.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, the spread of ground fighting, artillery fire, drone, and missile strikes has resulted in the deaths of at least 32 civilians, including women and children. The UNHCR estimates that over 130,000 individuals have fled their homes since early September due to the conflict, adding to the over 5.2 million who were already displaced. This upsurge compounds Yemen’s pre-existing humanitarian crisis, where over 22 million people are in dire need of assistance.
The attacks on civilians are in violation of international humanitarian laws, particularly Article 51(2) of Additional Protocol I to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which prohibits acts of violence intended to spread terror among civilians. Since the Houthi takeover in 2014, there has been widespread targeting of civilian infrastructure such as homes, hospitals, schools, and markets. Many attacks have been carried out intentionally and indiscriminately, exacerbating the humanitarian emergency.
In previous reports by Human Rights Watch, Houthi forces were condemned for indiscriminate shelling in populated areas, and the continued use of banned antipersonnel landmines has increased child casualties dramatically. Save the Children noted an eightfold increase in child casualties from unexploded ordnance between 2018 and 2022.
The UNHCR has initiated a Level 1 emergency response for Yemen and neighboring regions such as Djibouti and Somalia, aiming to facilitate swift humanitarian aid delivery, shelter, and protection. Türk also called attention to the arbitrary detention of 73 UN staff members by the Houthi group, describing the act as intolerable.
With the conflict showing no signs of abating, the emphasis now shifts to prioritizing the protection and humanitarian needs of affected civilians. The international community’s response in mobilizing resources and political efforts to secure a durable solution is crucial in preventing further erosion of Yemen’s social fabric.