UN Blacklists Saudi-Led Coalition for Crimes against Yemen Children

The United Nations added the Saudi Arabia-led coalition fighting in Yemen to an annual blacklist of states and armed groups that violate children’s rights during conflict, according to al-Manar TV.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon slammed the Saudi Arabia-led coalition Yemen for killing and maiming children in Yemen.

The coalition was responsible for 60 percent of child deaths and injuries last year, killing 510 and wounding 667, Reuters cited Ban’s report which was released on Thursday.

 The report also said the coalition carried out half the attacks on schools and hospitals.

Yemen has been since March 26, 2015 under brutal aggression by Saudi-led coalition. Thousands have been martyred and injured in the attack, with the vast majority of them are civilians.

“Grave violations against children increased dramatically as a result of the escalating conflict,” Ban said in the report.

The UN report blacklists groups that “engage in the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence against children, the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and/or hospitals and attacks or threats of attacks against protected personnel, and the abduction of children.”

The report cited a deadly US air strike on a hospital run by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres in Kunduz, Afghanistan, although it said the attack was carried out by “international forces” and did not blacklist the United States.

Ban urged the 193 UN member states to ensure engagement in hostilities and responses to threats to peace and security comply with international law.

“It is unacceptable that the failure to do so has resulted in numerous violations of children’s rights,” Ban said.

H.M