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Saudis offer UN information about attacks on Yemen civilians

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The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has offered to share with the United Nations the results of 10 investigations into air strikes on civilian targets, according to a confidential letter AFP obtained on Saturday.

Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi outlined a series of measures the coalition is taking to prevent attacks on civilians in Yemen in the 13-page letter sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday.

The coalition will share the results of the investigations with the United Nations during a meeting they have proposed be held in Riyadh, he said.

The offer of information about strikes on hospitals, homes, a wedding party and markets comes in response to UN demands that the coalition stop targeting civilians.

"The coalition takes any allegations of violations of civilians and children's rights very seriously," the ambassador said.

"The coalition is unequivocally committed to the protection of civilians and fully respects its obligations under international law," he added.

Forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni president stand guard on a road at the entrance to Abyan pro...
Forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni president stand guard on a road at the entrance to Abyan province as they take part in an operation to drive Al-Qaeda fighters out of the southern provincial capital, on April 23, 2016
Saleh Al-Obeidi, AFP/File

Ban is to report to the Security Council on Tuesday about whether the proposed measures will be sufficient to allow the coalition to remain off a UN blacklist of child rights violators.

Saudi Arabia reacted angrily to a decision in June to blacklist the coalition after a UN report found the military alliance was responsible for 60 percent of the 785 children's deaths in Yemen last year.

The secretary-general has accused the Saudis of threatening to cut off funding to UN aid programs over the blacklist.

Riyadh denies the accusations.

- Hospitals, aid trucks attacked -

Seven cases of alleged targeting of civilians were nearing completion, including three attacks on residences last year, the bombing of a wedding party in September and air strikes on a convoy of four World Food Program trucks in November, the ambassador said in the letter.

A 13-member investigative team is also probing an attack on a hospital in Saada province in October and on a mobile clinic in Taez region in December.

Three new cases involving two attacks on markets in February and March and on a hospital in January have been opened this year.

The results "will be shared with the United Nations as soon as the review and investigative process is completed," Mouallimi said.

More than 6 400 people have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition began its campaign ag...
More than 6,400 people have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition began its campaign against the Huthi rebels in 2014
Mohammed Huwais, AFP/File

Aside from the investigations, the coalition has set up a reparations committee to consider compensation for the victims.

It is in "direct dialogue" with humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), "in order to guarantee protection and security of hospitals and medical infrastructures," the letter said.

The ambassador provided details of steps taken to designate targets and ensure they have "identifiable military purposes."

They include drawing up a list of prohibited targets such as schools and diplomatic missions and working with "local forces to identify and vet targets for airstrikes."

"International partners have participated in intelligence sharing and provided targeting assistance, advisory and logistical support to the coalition," Mouallimi said without providing details.

The coalition launched an air campaign in support of Yemen's President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in March 2015 to push back Huthi rebels after they seized the capital Sanaa and many other parts of the country.

The war has killed some 6,400 people and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country, the United Nations says.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has offered to share with the United Nations the results of 10 investigations into air strikes on civilian targets, according to a confidential letter AFP obtained on Saturday.

Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi outlined a series of measures the coalition is taking to prevent attacks on civilians in Yemen in the 13-page letter sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday.

The coalition will share the results of the investigations with the United Nations during a meeting they have proposed be held in Riyadh, he said.

The offer of information about strikes on hospitals, homes, a wedding party and markets comes in response to UN demands that the coalition stop targeting civilians.

“The coalition takes any allegations of violations of civilians and children’s rights very seriously,” the ambassador said.

“The coalition is unequivocally committed to the protection of civilians and fully respects its obligations under international law,” he added.

Forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni president stand guard on a road at the entrance to Abyan pro...

Forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni president stand guard on a road at the entrance to Abyan province as they take part in an operation to drive Al-Qaeda fighters out of the southern provincial capital, on April 23, 2016
Saleh Al-Obeidi, AFP/File

Ban is to report to the Security Council on Tuesday about whether the proposed measures will be sufficient to allow the coalition to remain off a UN blacklist of child rights violators.

Saudi Arabia reacted angrily to a decision in June to blacklist the coalition after a UN report found the military alliance was responsible for 60 percent of the 785 children’s deaths in Yemen last year.

The secretary-general has accused the Saudis of threatening to cut off funding to UN aid programs over the blacklist.

Riyadh denies the accusations.

– Hospitals, aid trucks attacked –

Seven cases of alleged targeting of civilians were nearing completion, including three attacks on residences last year, the bombing of a wedding party in September and air strikes on a convoy of four World Food Program trucks in November, the ambassador said in the letter.

A 13-member investigative team is also probing an attack on a hospital in Saada province in October and on a mobile clinic in Taez region in December.

Three new cases involving two attacks on markets in February and March and on a hospital in January have been opened this year.

The results “will be shared with the United Nations as soon as the review and investigative process is completed,” Mouallimi said.

More than 6 400 people have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition began its campaign ag...

More than 6,400 people have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition began its campaign against the Huthi rebels in 2014
Mohammed Huwais, AFP/File

Aside from the investigations, the coalition has set up a reparations committee to consider compensation for the victims.

It is in “direct dialogue” with humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), “in order to guarantee protection and security of hospitals and medical infrastructures,” the letter said.

The ambassador provided details of steps taken to designate targets and ensure they have “identifiable military purposes.”

They include drawing up a list of prohibited targets such as schools and diplomatic missions and working with “local forces to identify and vet targets for airstrikes.”

“International partners have participated in intelligence sharing and provided targeting assistance, advisory and logistical support to the coalition,” Mouallimi said without providing details.

The coalition launched an air campaign in support of Yemen’s President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in March 2015 to push back Huthi rebels after they seized the capital Sanaa and many other parts of the country.

The war has killed some 6,400 people and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country, the United Nations says.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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