115 local organizations condemn militia crimes against civilians in the village of Al-Hankah, Qifa Rad’a.

In a strong statement, 115 civil society organizations in Yemen condemned the horrific crimes committed by Iranian-backed Houthi militias against civilians in the village of Al-Hanka, located in the Al-Masoud tribe of Qifah Rad’a, Al-Bayda governorate. These attacks began on Thursday, January 9, 2025, and have escalated over the past three days.

Details of the Attacks

The joint statement from the organizations reported that Houthi forces have launched relentless shelling and imposed a brutal siege on Al-Hanka. This violence has resulted in the deaths and injuries of 13 civilians, including women and children. The militias have also obstructed medical assistance to the wounded, destroyed numerous civilian properties and places of worship, and displaced hundreds of families. This escalation follows days of a harsh blockade on the residents of Al-Hanka, during which the Houthis deployed significant military reinforcements and arrested several local inhabitants under false accusations.

Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies

According to the statement, the Houthi militias have cut off water, food, and medical supplies to the villagers while continuing drone attacks. This situation has led to a catastrophic deterioration of humanitarian conditions, particularly affecting children, women, and the elderly. The ongoing violence threatens to result in further loss of life and property.

Violations of International Law

The organizations emphasized that these acts, which include deliberate killings, sieges, forced displacement, and attacks on civilian properties and places of worship, represent a military escalation by the Houthis amid worsening humanitarian conditions. They highlighted that these actions constitute a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international humanitarian law. Such crimes amount to war crimes and demonstrate the criminal nature of the Houthi militias, who indiscriminately target innocent civilians while pursuing a violent sectarian agenda aimed at instilling fear and consolidating their brutal approach.

Call to Action

The civil society organizations in Yemen urgently called on the Houthi militias to lift the siege immediately and cease military assaults against civilians in the area. They appealed to the international community and the United Nations for swift action to halt these violations and to pressure the Houthis to lift the blockade without delay, ensuring safe passage for humanitarian aid.

The organizations stated, “The grave violations committed by the Houthi militias against civilians consistently show that they disregard any peace process and fail to adhere to agreements. They continue to perpetrate acts of murder and abuse against innocent people.” They urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and all international mechanisms to condemn these violations and crimes, pursue those responsible, and ensure the protection of civilians in areas under militia control.

 

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