2020/289
4/26/2020
Rome – The International Federation for Rights and Development (IFRD) today warned of the implications of deepening the internal conflict in Yemen on escalating human rights violations against civilians, including the commission of reprisals that may amount to war crimes.
The Rome-based International Federation said in a press release that it viewed with seriousness the announcement of the “separatist transitional council” to form a self-administration for the governorates of southern Yemen, which represents a challenge to the authorities of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
IFRD stated it had received testimonies that the temporary Yemeni capital, Aden, witnessed, following the aforementioned step, an “intensive deployment” of security and military forces affiliated to the Southern Transitional Council, and launched campaigns to arrest and establish checkpoints.
The International Federation said that it feared this announcement by the separatist Transitional Council would mark the beginning of new and disturbing conflicts in Yemen, which civilians pay for and exacerbate human rights violations in the country.
She added that in light of this clear political division, the transitional council’s move might push towards new military confrontations, which constitutes a serious threat to the right to life of Yemeni civilians and the possibility of committing horrific and shocking violations amounting to war crimes.
The International Federation for Rights and Development (IFRD) warned of the repeated killings and field executions that took place during clashes in control of Aden and Abyan governorates in southern Yemen at the end of August 2019 between the security belt forces of the Transitional Council and the legitimate government forces.
IFRD noted that the Transitional Council forces and government forces are part of the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE against the Houthi group that took control of most of Yemen’s cities in 2014 and that recurring conflicts highlight the severity of the cracks in the alliance as the Saudis support the government while the UAE funds and arming the forces of the Transitional Council.
International Federation called for international intervention to put pressure on all parties to the conflict in Yemen inside and outside the country to ensure that political and military interests do not threaten the safety and security of the Yemeni people, who are suffering due to the reality of the lack of basic services, an escalating economic crisis, weak governance, and broken health, educational and judicial systems.
