Groups warn of the number of civilians and offenses committed in Hodeida in Yemen

CAIRO – Humanitarian aid groups have warned of the tragic plight of civilians in Hodeida, a disputed city in Yemen that is killing many people as the Saudi coalition fights to take the port city to Shiite rebels in the country.

In addition to the warning, a group of aid groups, including CARE and 34 others, issued a statement on Thursday calling for an immediate ceasefire in Yemen.

Amnesty International warned on Wednesday night that the rebels had taken up positions on the roof of a hospital in Hodeida, expressing their concerns that they were using hospital patients as human shields to ward off the dead. coalition air strikes. Médecins Sans Frontières, meanwhile, said it was treating two dozen wounded during the last offensive.

The push against Iran-backed rebels, also known as Houthis and who hold Hodeida, began again this month, shortly after the United States called for a ceasefire from here the end of the month.

Apparently, in a hurry to take Hodeida before that, coalition artillery, combat helicopters and air strikes pounded the rebels, causing dozens of deaths on both sides. The rebels admit that they are outnumbered but have vowed to continue to fight.

The civil war in Yemen has rarely been ceasefire and peace talks have repeatedly failed in the past.

Amnesty urged the warring parties to protect civilians. The coalition, which relies heavily on air power, has killed many civilians in recent air raids and the rebels are responding with mortars in residential neighborhoods making blind victims.

"The presence of Houthi fighters on the roof of the hospital is a violation of international humanitarian law," said Samah Hadid, Amnesty, adding that "this violation does not make the hospital, patients and medical staff legitimate targets "for the coalition.

Hadid said the hospital was filled with "wounded civilians who have nowhere else to go for treatment. Whoever attacks a hospital in these conditions risks being responsible for war crimes. "

The conflict in Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, began with the takeover of the capital Sanaa in 2014 by the Houthis who overthrew the internationally recognized government. The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting rebels since 2015 with the aim of bringing the government back to power.

In recent days, fighting has intensified with troops trained by the United Arab Emirates. A coalition member progressed in the east of Hodeida, pushing towards the city's port and the main facilities of the Red Sea, about 5 km away.

In their statement, CARE and 34 other groups urged the international community to "ensure the immediate cessation of hostilities" and to "suspend the supply of weapons that could be used in Yemen". The United States sells most of the weapons used by the coalition. while the rebels largely use local stocks. The Houthis have also been accused of firing missiles manufactured by Iran in Saudi Arabia and against coalition ships.

Doctors Without Borders has reported an influx of wounded civilians in recent days; Twenty-four wounded, including women and children from Hodeida, were mainly wounded by gunshot or gunshot.

The humanitarian group, known by the French acronym MSF, said civilians reportedly left Hodeida this weekend, but that it was difficult to gauge the number of people remaining trapped in l & # 39; inside.

Saudi-backed Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has appointed a new defense minister to fill a vacancy for several years, appointing Mohammed al-Maqdishi to the post, the official news agency said on Wednesday. SABA. He also appointed Abdullah al-Nakhi as the new chief of staff, reported the agency.

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