UNMHA: The continued mine victims in Hodeidah require urgent intervention

English - Thursday 31 August 2023 الساعة 08:49 am
Hodeidah, NewsYemen:

 The United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) stressed the need for urgent intervention in order to protect civilians in the governorate from the devastating effects of the conflict, especially landmines that are claiming more lives.

 In a statement issued by the mission, the mission indicated that the last civilian casualties as a result of a landmine explosion were in the Al-Durayhimi district, south of Al-Hodeidah.  "This unfortunate toll of civilian casualties is a reminder of the devastating impact of the conflict on the civilian population and the need for urgent intervention," he said.

The statement condemned any form of violations of the Hodeidah Agreement, especially those affecting the civilian population.  The UN mission did not name the party responsible for planting mines in the governorate, and was content with condemning and expressing concern.

 The statement stressed that the UNMHA mission will remain committed to supporting the parties to work together to find urgent and concrete measures that will help alleviate the suffering of the local population and fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.

 Hodeidah Governorate is one of the Yemeni governorates most contaminated with mines and explosives, and constantly witnesses incidents of explosions of landmines and remnants of war launched by the Houthi militia - Iran's arm in Yemen.

 The UN mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement documented, during the period from January 2022 to July 2023, about 390 civilian casualties, including 138 dead and 252 wounded, most of them children and women.