Saudi: Houthis committed 1,700 violations against kingdom

Yemen’s Houthis have committed 1,700 violations against Saudi Arabia leaving 500 civilians dead, the kingdom’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Abdullah Al- Mouallimi, said on Tuesday.

Speaking during a debate entitled “Children in Armed Conflict” at the UN Security Council, Al- Mouallimi said Saudi welcomes UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s decision to remove the “Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen” from a list of those responsible for violence against civilians.

Earlier this year the UN included the coalition on its list following a report on children and armed conflict, using data that suggested the coalition was responsible for 60 per cent of child deaths and injuries in Yemen in 2015.

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Following a complaint by Saudi Arabia, the coalition was temporarily removed from the list, pending a joint review of the cases cited in the annual report.

“We believe that children’s place is at school and not in the battlefield. They have an absolute right to education and healthcare, far from flying bullets. We are fully committed to protecting civilians and children in war zones,” Al-Mouallimi said.

The ambassador called on the United Nations to verify its sources, noting that Saudi continues to provide aid for Yemeni refugees, as well as humanitarian assistance in all parts of Yemen.

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