I have been following the situation in Yemen since the hostilities began in early 2015. In this House, I welcomed the news of a ceasefire last April, and I was very disappointed to learn of its breakdown in August.
However, there have been some signs of hope over the last few days, with parties agreeing to temporarily lay down arms as they consider returning to the negotiating table. I commend the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and his team on their tireless efforts to date in promoting a political solution to the Yemeni conflict, and I hope that this latest effort is successful.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen is “catastrophic”, according to the UN. Before the war ever broke out, Yemen was the poorest country in the Gulf. Now, eighty percent of the population is dependent on humanitarian assistance. The country is on the brink of famine. I appeal to all parties to the conflict to facilitate humanitarian aid access as a matter of priority. The most effective way to end the people's suffering is to end the war, but, in the interim, aid workers must be given access so that they can provide life-saving supplies and help to civilians.
For our part, since the onset of the current conflict in 2015, the Government has disbursed €3,950,000 in humanitarian aid to Yemen.
Air strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure have become a very disturbing feature of this conflict. Reports abound of such attacks being perpetrated by both sides. I cannot comment on the intent of these air strikes, but it is clear that innocent people continue to be injured and killed in such attacks. I was particularly concerned to learn of the strike on a funeral in Sana'a recently, in which killed over 140 people were killed. Such attacks are unacceptable.
I unreservedly condemn all deliberate targeting of civilians. I urge all parties to this conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, as I have done before in this House, and as I did with my EU partners last year at the Foreign Affairs Council, when we passed Council Conclusions on the conflict in Yemen.
Whether or not the attacks in Yemen constitute war crimes is, however, a matter for investigation, and decision by the courts. Ireland has been a strong advocate, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, for an independent, international investigation into potential abuses of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen.
