While the world is focused on the murder of a journalist by Saudi Arabia and debates whether it is worth it to impose sanctions upon the country, Saudi Arabia is behind "the single biggest attack on children" during the war in Yemen, rights groups say.
Dozens of children were killed a few weeks ago when Saudi-led forces launched an airstrike on a bus, UNICEF confirmed to DW. The tragedy has been dubbed "the single biggest attack on children" since the conflict erupted in 2015. In the wake of the deadly attack, some observers have asked whether Saudi Arabia and its coalition of pro-government forces are intentionally targeting children yet little is said about imposing bans on selling the nation weapons.
Save the Children Germany has called for a "full, immediate and independent investigation into this and other recent attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, like schools and hospitals," the organization's chief executive Susanna Krüger told DW. "We have seen a worrying rise in these incidents and no action has been taken to hold the perpetrators to account."
This isn't the first time children have taken the brunt of the war in Yemen. More than 6,000 children have been killed or injured since March 2015.
"It's one of the worst places to be a child," UNICEF spokeswoman Juliette Touma told DW. "It's probably safe to say that right now no place is safe for children in Yemen. The safety and protection of children has deteriorated because of continuous attacks, because of relentless violence against children," Touma said. "But it is also because the humanitarian situation in Yemen has become worse because of the war."
UNICEF says "nearly all children" in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the conflict.
Ali al-Absi, a Yemeni political scientist based in Berlin, told DW, "Saudi Arabia regards anything in Yemen as a legitimate target, including schools, markets, infrastructure, weddings and orphanages. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia does not seem interested in sparing civilians the scourge of war," al-Absi said. The Yemeni scholar noted that atrocities have been committed against children on both sides of the conflict. "Even the Houthis besieged the city of Taiz and targeted civilians and children with sniper fire," he said.
The US and other Western countries have given significant support to the Saudi-led coalition through logistics, intelligence and arms sales, actions which human rights organizations say have further fueled devastation in one of the poorest countries in the world.
Hady Amr, a former senior diplomat for the Obama administration, told DW that while external influence can help ease the conflict, the US "cannot have an effective role in brokering a solution" since it has "clearly taken sides."
For children's rights advocates, more needs to be done to end hostilities against children and, more generally, against civilian populations.
"There is no military solution to this conflict," said Save the Children's Krüger. "Only a political solution can bring the war to an end and reinstate peace in Yemen."
"Until the war finally comes to an end, we will continue to push forward with our humanitarian work and the delivery of humanitarian assistance," said UNICEF's Touma.
Dozens of children were killed a few weeks ago when Saudi-led forces launched an airstrike on a bus, UNICEF confirmed to DW. The tragedy has been dubbed "the single biggest attack on children" since the conflict erupted in 2015. In the wake of the deadly attack, some observers have asked whether Saudi Arabia and its coalition of pro-government forces are intentionally targeting children yet little is said about imposing bans on selling the nation weapons.
Save the Children Germany has called for a "full, immediate and independent investigation into this and other recent attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, like schools and hospitals," the organization's chief executive Susanna Krüger told DW. "We have seen a worrying rise in these incidents and no action has been taken to hold the perpetrators to account."
This isn't the first time children have taken the brunt of the war in Yemen. More than 6,000 children have been killed or injured since March 2015.
"It's one of the worst places to be a child," UNICEF spokeswoman Juliette Touma told DW. "It's probably safe to say that right now no place is safe for children in Yemen. The safety and protection of children has deteriorated because of continuous attacks, because of relentless violence against children," Touma said. "But it is also because the humanitarian situation in Yemen has become worse because of the war."
UNICEF says "nearly all children" in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the conflict.
Ali al-Absi, a Yemeni political scientist based in Berlin, told DW, "Saudi Arabia regards anything in Yemen as a legitimate target, including schools, markets, infrastructure, weddings and orphanages. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia does not seem interested in sparing civilians the scourge of war," al-Absi said. The Yemeni scholar noted that atrocities have been committed against children on both sides of the conflict. "Even the Houthis besieged the city of Taiz and targeted civilians and children with sniper fire," he said.
The US and other Western countries have given significant support to the Saudi-led coalition through logistics, intelligence and arms sales, actions which human rights organizations say have further fueled devastation in one of the poorest countries in the world.
Hady Amr, a former senior diplomat for the Obama administration, told DW that while external influence can help ease the conflict, the US "cannot have an effective role in brokering a solution" since it has "clearly taken sides."
For children's rights advocates, more needs to be done to end hostilities against children and, more generally, against civilian populations.
"There is no military solution to this conflict," said Save the Children's Krüger. "Only a political solution can bring the war to an end and reinstate peace in Yemen."
"Until the war finally comes to an end, we will continue to push forward with our humanitarian work and the delivery of humanitarian assistance," said UNICEF's Touma.
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