Sunday, 05 September 2010 16:37

SANAA, 05 Oct – The New-York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) Monday called on the Yemeni government to “allow aid agencies to help up to 150,000 civilians trapped by the fierce fighting in northern Yemen,” and urged the UN humanitarian emergency relief coordinator, who is visiting Yemen on October 7 and 8 to play a role in bringing the appalling humanitarian consequences of this conflict to the world’s attention.  In a letter sent to Holmes on October 1, Human Rights Watch urged him to call on the Yemeni authorities to facilitate aid agencies’ access to civilians in desperate need of food, water, shelter and health care. Holmes is the most senior UN representative to visit Yemen to address the humanitarian impact of the six-year-long conflict between the government and Huthi rebels. According to the UN, the fighting has displaced up to 150,000 people, most of whom remain beyond the reach of humanitarian assistance.  “Fighting and government restrictions means tens of thousands of civilians in northern Yemen are cut off from help that they desperately need,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, adding “the government needs to help aid agencies reach civilians, not throw up obstacles in their way.”  Neither the government nor the rebels have responded to UN calls to open humanitarian corridors.  Authorities in Saudi Arabia have forcibly returned Yemeni refugees to the war zone and civilians escaping the fighting said they had to walk for days through barren mountain terrain to safety because roads were blocked by armed groups or cut off by fighting.