Human rights and humanitarian laws have been broken by all sides in the protracted battle in Yemen, and they have all done so with impunity. Parties to the war persisted in their illegal attacks that killed and maimed civilians, obstructed their access to humanitarian relief, and damaged civilian property in spite of an agreement to a truce. Journalists and activists have been subjected to harassment, arbitrary detention, and legal actions by both the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Huthi de facto authorities due to their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression or their political affiliation. Everybody involved engaged in prejudice and violence against women.
The Yemeni civil war
A UN proposal for a two-month national ceasefire was accepted by the parties to the conflict on April 2. The truce was then extended every two months until October 2. The parties also agreed to allow fuel supplies into Hodeidah port and commercial planes to operate in and out of the international airport in the capital, Sana’a, to predefined destinations. The parties also agreed to cease aggressive military activities inside and outside of Yemen. However, the parties to the war periodically attacked frontlines and residential areas in the governorates of Ma’rib, Hodeidah, Ta’iz, and Dhale’ both during and after the truce.
A new eight-member presidential leadership council led by former interior minister Rashad al-Alimi took over as president on April 7th, succeeding President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Several influential military and political individuals who opposed the Huthi de facto rulers were represented on the council. Food access for Yemenis remains very limited. The weakening of the Yemeni riyal, elevated rates of inflation, and the surge in global food costs worsened this. Twenty of the 22 governorates have dangerously high levels of food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme.
Humanitarian crisis
Prior to April, indiscriminate strikes by Houthi troops and the coalition headed by Saudi Arabia resulted in civilian deaths and injuries as well as the destruction and damage of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and communication systems. At least three children were killed when the Saudi-led coalition started airstrikes on Hodeidah city on January 20. Additionally, a telecommunications complex was damaged, resulting in a four-day statewide internet blackout. At least 80 civilians were killed and over 200 were injured after a US-made precision-guided munition was shot on January 21 at a detention center in Sa’adah, northwest Yemen, by the Saudi-led coalition. Four mortar rounds were dropped on the Ta’iz governorate police administrative building and the nearby street in the Sala district’s al-Ardhi neighborhood on May 4th by a drone. Two football fields, a playground, the College of Arts, and a cancer center are all located in the neighborhood. Six individuals were hurt in the incident. A three-year-old kid was murdered and eleven children were injured on July 23 by an artillery round in the Ta’iz governorate’s Zaid al-Moshki residential neighborhood. The Huthis disclaimed any involvement in the assault.
Key actors and dynamics
Conflicting parties persisted in intimidating, threatening, detaining without cause, and bringing legal action against those who were peacefully expressing their right to free speech. The Huthi de facto authorities stormed and closed down at least six Sana’a radio stations in January. After appealing the closure to the Journalism and Publishing Court in Sana’a, the proprietor of the Sawt al-Yemen radio station was granted a court order in July to restart the station. Nonetheless, security personnel stormed the station once more on July 11 and took its transmitting equipment. At least seven journalists and activists were harassed, called for questioning, or unjustly arrested by the internationally recognized administration in regions under its jurisdiction, including the governorates of Ta’iz and Hadramout. At least three journalists were prosecuted by judicial authorities for writing articles that were critical of governmental leaders and institutions. The charges included “mocking” army officers, “insulting” public employees, and “offending a symbol of the state,” each of which is punishable by up to two years in jail.
Peace efforts and challenges
Parties to the war persisted in limiting travel and the distribution of aid, among other measures by enforcing bureaucratic restrictions such the cancellation of humanitarian efforts, the rejection or suspension of travel permits, and meddling in the planning and execution of humanitarian projects. The principal thoroughfares into and out of Ta’iz were still closed by the Houthi de facto government. The Ta’iz governorate’s ability to efficiently import and export food, medications, and other necessities was seriously hampered by the restrictions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Parties to the war have not attempted to compensate civilians for the harm they have caused or to bring any justice to those who have been victims of extensive violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and human rights during the conflict.