There have been 9 civilian deaths in Yemen, and the families have been left with a continuing risk. It is a tragedy, as the civilian population is vulnerable to military operations, and we need to be aware of it. Most of the victims are children, and the situation is just the worst of the humanitarian tragedies that are happening in a country that has been through so much suffering and so many wars and now is suffering from a humanitarian crisis.
The precise location of the purported attack, the identity of the force acting and the intended target need to be confirmed, and the reported civilian deaths should be confirmed and investigated by trustworthy (i.e., independent) sources. Civilians who live in the areas of fighting are often left with few options to escape from the fighting when it happens suddenly and essential services are already strained.
The strike hit a residential house in the Sahar neighbourhood in northern Yemen’s Saada province, which is dominated by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, the Houthi Health Ministry said. The nine people killed were five children and two women, and 19 people were wounded, it said. At least 11 children were among them, and some of them were in critical condition. Rescuers were looking for survivors in the rubble, which could lie beneath it.
For the Houthi leaders, the airstrike was blamed on Saudi Arabia. But Saudi officials had not been able to comment on the allegation in early reports, and independent proof of responsibility was not available at the time of reporting. Details of the attack, including the intended target and the circumstances leading to the strike, were not clear. The casualty numbers were based on information published by health authorities of the Houthi-controlled health care system, and may be updated as rescue and assessment activities continue.
The attack comes as the Yemen conflict has been boiling over over the past weeks. Fighting between Houthi forces and their rivals has exploded after a period of relative calm following a ceasefire. Violence is increasing fears that the country could go on to see another long-winding battle (and more civilian casualties) as attacks and disruptions to essential services lead to civilian casualties.
Yemen has gone through years of conflict that have destroyed infrastructure, damaged public institutions and displaced many people. Even though many of the communities are still in need of humanitarian assistance for basic needs such as food, health care and clean water, new attacks and fighting on the ground and the bombing of homes would make them worse and would limit access to medical facilities and make it even more difficult for aid organisations to reach these communities.
The latest casualties also show the special dangers faced by children in conflict zones. Child victims are especially vulnerable when attacks occur in homes and densely populated areas, and injuries may have long-lasting physical and psychological consequences. 11 children were among the wounded in this incident, so immediate medical treatment and protection for affected families are major concerns.
International humanitarian law requires parties to armed conflicts to distinguish civilians and combatants and take all reasonable precautions to minimise civilian harm. Attacks must also adhere to the principles of proportionality and precaution. The deaths of children and other civilians are likely to spur a more thorough investigation into the circumstances of the strike.
Establishing responsibility requires reliable evidence, including information about the target, the weapons used and the circumstances of the attack. An independent assessment would help us to understand all the facts surrounding what happened and to see whether the applicable rules of armed conflict were observed. Any allegations against Saudi Arabia should be treated as claims and therefore not as independent evidence until further information is available.
The latest incident emphasises the urgent need to decrease hostilities (both on the ground and overseas), to protect civilians and to keep humanitarian organisations involved. For families in Yemen, a fresh battle has brought in more casualties and made an already tense humanitarian situation that much worse. Most of the people who suffer injury will receive medical treatment, rescue efforts will be done on any bodies trapped under debris and civilians will be protected from further violence.
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