Geneva – The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and 33 other Yemeni human rights organizations have sent an urgent
letter to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, calling for
an urgent intervention to stop the dangerous humanitarian repercussions in Marib city northern Yemen, as result of the
Houthi attack.
The organizations said in their letter that in the last two weeks, the Houthis have escalated their military campaign to
control Marib and have increased their indiscriminate attacks without regard to the basic principles of international
humanitarian law and the dangers posed to the civilian population.
The organizations expressed their concern about the risks of an impending humanitarian catastrophe that may befall the
city as a result of the military attack. Since the city was considered relatively safe, it has more than 90 camps
inhabited by about two million displaced persons, including 965,000 children and 429,000 women, who fled from
neighboring governorates during the years of conflict.
The Houthis’ attack has obstructed the access of aid for the displaced, and directly threatened their lives, and may
force them to flee en masse from the city without safe corridors or any guarantees that they will not be subjected to
reprisals if the Houthis take control.
As the country is witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, the attack on Marib blocks any chances of
peaceful solution. About 80% of the population have become dependent on relief aid, while 50% of children under the age
of five suffer from malnutrition. Hundreds of thousands of these children may die due to the lack of humanitarian aid,
which has significantly declined over the past two years.
The organizations called on the EU to urgently intervene to stop the Houthis’ attack on Marib and comply with the recent
EU resolution 2021/2539 (RSP) of February 11, 2021. This is regarding the humanitarian and political situation in Yemen.
The resolution urged all parties to the conflict to facilitate the unimpeded passage of relief aid and other essential
goods to the population and use all possible tools to hold all those involved in grave human rights violations in Yemen
accountable.
Background
During the past two days, Yemeni sources announced that dozens of people were killed and wounded in battles between the
Houthis and the Yemeni army in Marib, in the east of the country. This was at a time when the United Nations warned that
the military attack on Marib would put up to two million civilians in danger, and thus result in the displacement of
hundreds of thousands.
The city, located about 120 kilometers east of the capital, Sanaa – where the Houthis have imposed their control since
2014 – avoided the war in the beginning, but the Houthis launched attacks for nearly a year, which has intensified
during the last two weeks.
According to international organizations, the ongoing conflict in Yemen since 2014 has killed tens of thousands and
displaced millions, while nearly 80% of Yemen's population of 29 million have become dependent on aid.
The signatories of the letterSam Organization for Rights and Liberties.American Center for Justice (ACJ)Abductece Mothers AssociationYemeni Network for Rights and FreedomAdalah for Rights and DevelopmentNas Development and Human Rights CenterThe Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations- Rasd CoalitionAljawaf Organization for Freedoms and Human RightsThe Arabic European Centre for Human RightsWethaq Foundation for Civil OrientationRights Radar for human rightsShumoul Organization for Media and Human Rights - DhamarChild Voice OrgRased Organization for Rights and freedoms - MahwitShohood organization for human rights - Sana'aRasd organization for freedom and Rights.Civil commission for houses Bombing victimsFor Organzation Freedom My freedom and Rights Human - HodeidahTaiz Human Right Center - TaizHuman Free - SaadaDameer Foundation for Human Rights - ShabwaYemen Rights Organization for rights and development - Maribjustice and Equity Organization for Development and human RightsThe National Authority for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms "Hood", Sheba region teamMonitor Center for Rights and Development AlbidaThe National Organization of Yemeni Reporters "SADA"Defense Foundation for Rights and FreedomsMusawah organization for Rights and freedomsThe Arabic European Centre for Human RightsYemeni British Forum for Peace and Democracy (YBFPD)Socotra Organization for Rights and FreedomsPeace Organization for Social Development and Human RightsThe Yemeni Organization for Economic and Social Development