UAE supports Hadi government in Yemen

The UAE has reiterated its support to the legitimate government of President Abd Rabo Mansour Hadi in Yemen and condemned violations committed by Houthi militias and their backers against civilians and Yemeni people.

 Alia Al Shehhi, First Secretary at the UAE's mission in Geneva, made these remarks on Monday while addressing an event organised by Yemen's permanent mission in Geneva on the sidelines of the 30th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC).

Al Shehhi added that peace in Yemen will not be achieved without the implementation of the Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2216, and without forcing militias and those who support them to comply with international legitimacy norms and by rallying the international community to provide support to the legitimate President and his government.

The event focused on exposing the crimes committed by Houthi militias and the forces of Ali Abdullah Saleh who was deposed as President in 2012, after they took power by force, occupied Yemeni cities and institutions and removed the legitimate and elected government of President Hadi.

Ahmed Al Babeli, Director of Human Rights at the Yemeni Foreign Ministry, highlighted the national committee to investigate human rights violations committed in Yemen since 2011. He said the committee was created under the legitimate government by means of two republican decrees, based on the HRC resolution and the Security Council resolution 2140.

He added that the creation of the committee was in response to demands both locally and internationally, for justice in Yemen. He also said the committee's mandate is limited by a time frame until the end of the year but can be extended for another year by the President of the Republic.

Al Babeli said the independent committee will work closely with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) and urged expertise support to the committee.

Asaad Younis, a member of the Arab Commission for Human Rights who recently visited Aden as part of a fact finding mission under invitation from President Hadi, said the Houthi militias recruited children from remote areas and forced them to fight.

Majdi Helmi, a journalist and human rights activist, said the Yemeni people's cries of help should reach the international community, adding that women there cannot find food for their children, nor schools to allow them continue their education.

Helmi also warned of Houthi militias' violations against journalists and called on international organisations to help journalists to work freely.

"Those who call for international standards should work to stop the conflict or to confront the militias who wreak havoc in Yemen. They should work towards implementation of Security Council resolution 2216 and restoring legitimacy in Yemen," he added.

Yemeni activists taking part in the event unanimously rejected the idea of an international committee for human rights in Yemen, saying that the national committee was capable of investigating and reporting violations in more objective and transparent manner.

They argued that current circumstances will make it impossible for an international committee to access all areas quickly or freely.

Bushra Al Ameri, a Yemeni journalist who came from Sana'a, gave an account of the situation there, saying the Houthis controlled food, humanitarian aid and fuel and started a black market for commodities for double the price.

"The Houthis changed the humanitarian situation in Yemen into a real catastrophe. They deployed anti-aircraft inside every neighbourhood in Sana'a and prevented people from moving so they can be used as human shields," she said.
 

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