New York, NY, August 28, 2018 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) welcomes the latest report of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen, which adds to the increasing evidence of violations and crimes under international law perpetrated by all sides in the war. With the first round of peace negotiations now less than two weeks away the international community and members of the UN Security Council must now act to protect civilians, bring an end to the violence, and ensure assistance can reach the millions of Yemenis in desperate need.
IRC’s Yemen country director Frank McManus said: "The report of the Expert Group highlights the daily reality faced by millions of Yemenis who must contend with the ongoing risks of air and artillery strikes by all sides, combined with the enormous and often systematic challenges in accessing basic life-saving humanitarian assistance. Even by the grim standards of this war, the mass casualties of the past month have been brutal - and Yemenis are constantly suffering from lack of access to food, clean water, and lifesaving medicine due to systemic obstacles put in place by all sides to this conflict. Like attacks that harm and kill civilians, restrictions on humanitarian assistance violate international law.
"A real commitment to political and humanitarian progress demands that member states with influence over the parties use it now to secure, an immediate end to the fighting, unhindered flow of humanitarian supplies and staff into and around Yemen, and, independent, impartial, credible investigations into all violations of international law. Today’s report illustrates that Yemen cannot wait. If Martin Griffiths is to succeed he needs more than words of support from the UK, US and France. As the main military suppliers to the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition they have special responsibility to show leadership. The US, UK, and France have leverage to alleviate suffering - they must use it. With the first round of peace negotiations now less than two weeks away the international community and members of the UN Security Council must now act to protect civilians, bring an end to the violence, and ensure assistance can reach the millions of Yemenis in desperate need."