As chaos deepens in Yemen, UN expert warns of ‘worst case scenario’ displacement

8 April 2015 – The United Nations expert on the human rights of internally displaced persons today urged the international community “to prepare for massive displacement and humanitarian crisis as conflict torn Yemen further descends into chaos and civilians flee the fighting.”

“The international community must prepare for a worst case scenario. While efforts to reach a diplomatic solution are essential, the picture on the ground is extremely bleak and humanitarian responses must be stepped up as a matter of urgency,” UN Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani warned in a news release from Geneva.

“Unless rapidly resolved, the crisis could lead to mass displacement in the wake of heavy and ongoing fighting and airstrikes,” he added.

Over the last two weeks of increased fighting, more than 540 people have been killed, of which 311 are civilians, including 77 children, according to UN humanitarian agencies. At least 513 civilians have been injured, and more than 100,000 have been displaced.

On 30 March, an airstrike carried out against the Al-Mazraq camp, home to over 4,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Hajjah Governorate, northern Yemen, led to the deaths of 25, with 37 others injured, including 12 children. The UN expert condemned the attack and described it as “a grave violation against some of the most vulnerable of the vulnerable civilians.”

In addition to the IDP camp, reports have indicated that numerous hospitals, schools and other civilian buildings have been damaged by airstrikes and power and water supply cuts. Thousands of people are in an extremely vulnerable situation having been forced to flee their homes in areas where fighting has become intense and spread to residential neighbourhood

“Those responsible for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, must be held accountable,” the Special Rapporteur stressed. The Special Rapporteur joined humanitarian actors, including the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Johannes van Der Klaauw, in calling on all parties to allow unhindered access to civilians by humanitarian actors. He underscored that IDPs must be protected against direct or indiscriminate attacks or acts of violence and attacks against their camps or settlements.  Read More at As chaos deepens in Yemen

As chaos deepens in Yemen, UN expert warns of ‘worst case scenario’ displacement

Civilian casualties, humanitarian concerns mounting as Yemen fighting continues - UN