Statement condemning the crime of targeting a bus full of children in Dahyan market in Directorate of Majz – Governorate of Saada by the Saudi Aggression Alliance warplanes on August 9, 2018

In a horrific crime, which is one of series of war crimes and genocide against civilians in Yemen, the warplanes of the Saudi aggression alliance committed a crime that caused in the biggest humanitarian disaster by targeting a bus carrying students of summer centers specialized in memorizing the Holy Quran.  The brutal raids targeted the bus of kids while it was next to a market in Dahyan city while some other raids targeted a funeral in the Falla area in Majz district, the atttacksresulted in at least 43 killed victims, including children, and more than 63 injured as Preliminary statistics on crime documented by the Legal Center for Rights and Development. The number of victims is still high because of serious injuries to the wounded. The military alliance led by Saudi Arabia has violated the basic principles of international humanitarian law (the law of war), it did not take into account the principle of necessity and proportionality and the principle of humanity and the need to avoid civilian targets and distinguish them from others. The raids targeted a bus of students at a popular market and followed by raids targeted funeral procession, which confirms that the coalition deliberately targets the civilian population in order to kill the largest number of them, which makes these crimes amount to be described as war crimes. This crime is a part of the series of crimes committed by the Saudi forces and their allies against the Yemeni people.

Legal Center for Rights and Development, which monitors and documents the flagrant crimes and violations of the rules and provisions of international law, particularly international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by the countries of the aggression coalition led by Saudi Arabia, condemns these heinous crimes against humanity. It holds Saudi Arabia and its alliance the responsible for this crime and its predecessors. Legal Center calls for the investigation and criminal prosecution of Coalition leaders and all those found to be involved in these crimes. The United Nations and the Security Council are also key partners in all these crimes because of their failure to shoulder their legal and moral responsibilities and to deal with these crimes seriously and try to stop them.

The Legal Center reaffirms that the continuation of the crimes committed by the coalition countries against civilians and civilian objects in accordance with the provisions and rules of the four Geneva Conventions and the Protocols thereto constitute is considered a war crime.

Legal Center for Rights and Development reiterates its appeal to all United Nations bodies and organizations, particularly the United Nations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to take serious and effective action to lift the siege and prevent the coalition countries from committing further massacres, crimes and flagrant violations of the rules and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant international conventions and treaties. Legal Center urges the United Nations, headed by the Secretary-General to bring the officials of the coalition countries to the international courts and to hold them accountable and be punished in accordance with the provisions of international law.

Issued by the Legal Center for Rights and Development

Sana’a, August 9, 2018