UN human rights chief calls for investigations into Yemen civilian casualties

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Tuesday reminded all sides in Yemen to ensure that attacks resulting in civilian casualties are promptly investigated.

According to Zeid's office, at least 364 civilians are reported to have lost their lives since March 26, including at least 84 children and 25 women. Another 681 civilians have been injured. Dozens of public buildings, including hospitals, schools, airports and mosques have been destroyed in air strikes, through shelling and other attacks.

"Every hour, we are receiving and documenting deeply disturbing and distressing reports of the toll that this conflict is taking on civilian lives and infrastructure," Zeid said in a statement.

"Most of the country is now suffering from the effects of armed conflict," he said, "The humanitarian situation is appallingly bad, compounded by wanton violence, lawlessness and serious human rights violations."

He said the parties to the conflict are obliged to ensure that international humanitarian law and international human rights law are scrupulously respected and that the civilian population is protected.

The UN human rights chief stressed that all parties must take all feasible measures to avoid locating military objectives in populated residential areas and must exercise maximum care to ensure that civilians and civilian objects are protected against dangers arising from military operations.

He also warned that the intentional targeting of civilians not taking direct part in hostilities would amount to a war crime, and urged all sides to negotiate a swift end to the bloodshed and devastation in Yemen.

"The people of Yemen have already suffered for too long and the calamitous effects of the conflict are already going to take years, if not decades, to reverse," he added. Endit