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Rights Radar: Ma’rib Massacre Undermines International Efforts for Ceasefire in Yemen

Amsterdam, 06/06/2021

Rights Radar Organization for Human Rights based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, has condemned the horrific massacre committed by Houthi militia against civilians in Ma’rib, north-east of Yemen.

Local sources told Rights Radar that the Houthi militia targeted a fuel station in Al-Rawda neighborhood, north of Ma’rib, in a double attack, using a ballistic missile and a booby-trapped drone. This attack resulted in killing 14 civilians, including a little girl, in addition to the injury of other five civilians.

The sources added that the bombing was carried out in two phases. At first, the ballistic missile was launched and it exploded at the fuel station located in Al-Rawda neighborhood inhabited by civilians and displaced people, resulting in the killing and wounding this number of victims.

These sources said that after a short while, a booby-trapped drone was used to carry out a second attack in the same place. This resulted in the damage of two ambulances that came to rescue the victims of the first attack.

The attack with both of the missile and the drone resulted in the killing of 14 civilians, including a five-year-old girl and her father, in addition to burning 9 cars, including the two ambulances which rushed to rescue the victims.

The nature of this horrific attack indicates that it was intended and planned to cause the greatest amount of damage and casualties.

This attack has occurred while the international community, at all levels, is still seeking a ceasefire in Yemen. With such an attack the Houthi militia confirms its disregard and indifference to international efforts. This contributes to undermining these international efforts and obstructing the peace process in Yemen.

Rights Radar calls on the international community to fulfil its moral and legal duty and put an end to targeting of civilians not only in Ma’rib, but also in south of Al-Hodeidah and Taiz. Most of these attacks are considered war crimes that require the punishment for their perpetrators and those who support them.

Rights Radar also calls on the United Nations to adopt an independent international investigation to estimate the constant risks as a result of the continuous targeting of civilians in contravention of what is stipulated in international covenants, International Humanitarian Law and Geneva Conventions.