Human Rights Commissioner Kofler on the attack on civilian infrastructure and first responders in Yemen

Bärbel Kofler, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office, issued the following statement today (14 September):

Zusatzinformationen

I am shocked by reports of air strikes on a water well in the village Beit Saadan, north of the Yemeni capital Sana’a, last Saturday which claimed more than 30 lives and left many injured. I condemn attacks perpetrated by all conflicting parties on civilian targets in the Yemen conflict. I am particularly distressed by the second attack which struck many first responders. The incident needs to be investigated quickly.

I call upon all parties to the Yemen conflict to end the violence and return to a ceasefire. The conflicting parties need to find their way back to a negotiating process under the aegis of the United Nations and to refrain from any steps which could hamper the continuation of talks. International humanitarian law that includes protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure must be guaranteed. Humanitarian aid workers need unhindered, safe access to those suffering to provide the help they so urgently need.

Background information:

According to United Nations reports, at least 30 people were killed and more than a hundred injured during an air strike on a water well currently being built in the village Beit Saadan north of Sana’a on 10 September. After the first attack came a second which killed many people who had come to help. The peace talks for Yemen led by the United Nations in Kuwait ended on 6 August after three and a half months without agreement being reached. Fighting has increased again since then. 80% of Yemenites, that is about 21 million people, are dependent on aid convoys which however are rarely reaching them due to the escalating conflict. Humanitarian aid organisations are working under extremely difficult conditions and given the security situation are forced to withdraw their staff and close offices.

from
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2016/160914_Kofler_Jemen.html?nn=479796