Press conference in Al-Khawkhah reveals toll of crimes of Saudi enemy, its mercenaries on western coast during eight years
During the conference the center reviewed a field and statistical report that documented 687 civilian victims and widespread damage affecting homes farms facilities fishermen’s livelihoods and religious landmarks
At the conference Al-Hudaydah Governor Abdullah Atifi affirmed that the crimes committed by formations affiliated with the Saudi aggression in the western coast districts affected the lives of civilians and their livelihoods and property and targeted facilities mosques and religious landmarks in violations that left broad humanitarian economic and social effects among the people of Al-Khawkhah and Hays
He explained that the people of the western coast especially fishermen and farmers bore direct consequences from violations targeting abduction and torture and the accompanying destruction of property and disruption of income sources and services
Atifi called on the international community the United Nations the Security Council the Human Rights Council and international organizations to assume their responsibilities toward the documented crimes and violations and to work to deliver justice to victims and hold those responsible accountable praising the center’s efforts in monitoring documentation and issuing rights reports that reveal what the people of the western coast have been subjected to
For his part Director of Al-Khawkhah District Amjad Al-Umaysi explained that formations affiliated with the aggression committed the most horrific crimes of looting plundering dragging and rape in Al-Khawkhah and Hays districts
For his part Head of the Ain al-Insaniyah Center for Rights and Development Ahmed Abu Hamra stated that the report covers the events of eight years of violations affecting the right to life and public safety praising the support of the National Human Rights Commission for civil institutions working in the human rights field and holding the aggression countries fully responsible for all crimes
The report issued by the center revealed that the total civilian victims in Al-Khawkhah and Hays due to bombing by the Saudi enemy and its mercenaries reached 687 victims killed and injured including 343 martyrs among them 89 children 24 women and 230 men in addition to 344 injured among them 57 children 41 women and 246 men
It stated that intensive bombing and field escalation caused the displacement of thousands of families and their suffering from scarcity of food security and clean drinking water and a decline in primary medical care noting the extent of damage to civilian objects and infrastructure including damage to 605 homes and housing units and 204 farms and agricultural fields the suspension of 20 service and health facilities the disruption of 47 markets and commercial shops and damage to 27 water networks and drinking water wells
Regarding the systematic targeting of fishermen the report revealed the destruction of four thousand seven hundred fishing boats and fishing equipment the killing and injury of 457 fishermen the abduction of more than two thousand others and the enemy’s imposition of private fish landing centers and forcing citizens to deal with them for financial compensation
It pointed to the halt of agricultural activity as a result of turning farms into military barracks and the disruption of electricity stations and generators in order to operate private generators at high fees for the benefit of military and field leaders affiliated with the enemy and its tools
It addressed the deliberate destruction by the enemy’s aircraft and mercenaries of religious landmarks archaeological mosques shrines and historical sites in Al-Khawkhah and Hays districts noting that a number of them were subjected to bombing explosion and bulldozing with improvised explosive devices and the resulting damage to the religious and historical heritage of the area
The report disclosed the crime of field liquidation and execution of 13 prisoners on the western coast front in November 2021 CE considering that a flagrant violation of the provisions of international humanitarian law
The center also documented 14 cases of direct rape against children and women under threat of weapons 23 cases of physical harassment and nine cases of abduction for sexual violence during the period covered by the report
It appealed to the international community and global human rights organizations to assume their moral and legal responsibilities to protect civilians and uphold the rules of international humanitarian law
The conference was attended by directors of health and environment offices Dr Ali Al-Haddad finance Muhammad Al-Washli media Ibrahim Al-Za’aroor and media correspondents