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Yemen conflict: UN takes Saudi coalition off child blacklist | Yemen conflict: UN takes Saudi coalition off child blacklist |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen has been removed from a UN blacklist of states and groups that violate children's rights in conflict. | The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen has been removed from a UN blacklist of states and groups that violate children's rights in conflict. |
Saudi Arabia protested after the UN released a report saying the coalition was responsible for 60% of the child deaths and injuries in Yemen last year. | Saudi Arabia protested after the UN released a report saying the coalition was responsible for 60% of the child deaths and injuries in Yemen last year. |
It said the casualty figures were "wildly exaggerated". | It said the casualty figures were "wildly exaggerated". |
The UN said it would now carry out a joint review with the coalition of the cases listed in the report. | The UN said it would now carry out a joint review with the coalition of the cases listed in the report. |
But the Saudi envoy to the UN insisted the removal of the coalition from the blacklist was "final". | But the Saudi envoy to the UN insisted the removal of the coalition from the blacklist was "final". |
The human rights campaign group Human Rights Watch sharply criticised the move, saying the UN chief's office had "hit a new low". | |
'Political manipulation' | |
The coalition - which comprises Saudi Arabia and nine other Arab and Muslim nations, supported by the US and UK - began fighting the Houthis in March 2015, two months after the rebels drove Yemen's government from power and took full control of the capital, Sanaa. | |
Since then, at least 6,200 people - about half of them civilians - have been killed and 2.8 million others have been displaced, according to the UN. | Since then, at least 6,200 people - about half of them civilians - have been killed and 2.8 million others have been displaced, according to the UN. |
Last Thursday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued his annual report on children and armed conflict, which described the situation in Yemen as "particularly worrisome". | Last Thursday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued his annual report on children and armed conflict, which described the situation in Yemen as "particularly worrisome". |
A year that has set Yemen back decades | A year that has set Yemen back decades |
No end in sight to war in Yemen | No end in sight to war in Yemen |
Practising medicine under fire in Yemen | Practising medicine under fire in Yemen |
A young girl and a city struggling for life | A young girl and a city struggling for life |
It said there was a five-fold increase in the number of children recruited and used by armed groups in 2015 and that six times more children were killed and maimed compared with 2014. | It said there was a five-fold increase in the number of children recruited and used by armed groups in 2015 and that six times more children were killed and maimed compared with 2014. |
The report attributed 510 child deaths and 667 injuries last year to the Saudi-led coalition, most of them caused by air strikes, and 142 child deaths and 247 injuries to the Houthis. In 324 incidents, the responsible party could not be identified. | The report attributed 510 child deaths and 667 injuries last year to the Saudi-led coalition, most of them caused by air strikes, and 142 child deaths and 247 injuries to the Houthis. In 324 incidents, the responsible party could not be identified. |
Just under half of the 101 verified attacks on schools and hospitals were attributed to the coalition. | Just under half of the 101 verified attacks on schools and hospitals were attributed to the coalition. |
On Monday, Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the UN, Abdullah al-Mouallimi, complained to Mr Ban about the report. | On Monday, Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the UN, Abdullah al-Mouallimi, complained to Mr Ban about the report. |
"If there are any casualties from the coalition side, they would be far, far lower," he said, adding that it used "the most up-to-date equipment in precision targeting". | "If there are any casualties from the coalition side, they would be far, far lower," he said, adding that it used "the most up-to-date equipment in precision targeting". |
Later, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Mr Ban had accepted a Saudi proposal to remove the coalition from the blacklist pending a joint review of the cases and numbers cited in his report. | Later, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Mr Ban had accepted a Saudi proposal to remove the coalition from the blacklist pending a joint review of the cases and numbers cited in his report. |
The secretary general had invited the coalition to send a team to New York as soon as possible for detailed discussions before the UN Security Council examines the report in August, he added. | The secretary general had invited the coalition to send a team to New York as soon as possible for detailed discussions before the UN Security Council examines the report in August, he added. |
However, Mr Mouallimi described the removal of the coalition from the blacklist as a "vindication", and said the decision was "irreversible and unconditional". | However, Mr Mouallimi described the removal of the coalition from the blacklist as a "vindication", and said the decision was "irreversible and unconditional". |
"We were wrongly placed on the list," he added. "We know that this removal is final." | "We were wrongly placed on the list," he added. "We know that this removal is final." |
Human Rights Watch accused UN officials of "political manipulation". | |
"After giving a similar pass to Israel last year, the UN secretary general's office has hit a new low by capitulating to Saudi Arabia's brazen pressure and taking the country off its just published list of shame," said the US-based group's deputy director for global advocacy, Philippe Bolopion. "Yemen's children deserve better." | |
The UN left Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas off the blacklist in the 2014 report, after they had been included in an earlier draft. |
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