Forms of Suffering During Wartime in Yemen: Displacement, Poverty and Detention

A human rights report revealed that 51 victims were killed as a result of the bombing of 713 homes in several Yemeni provinces during the years of war.

Under the title "Tears on the Debris," the American Center for Justice (ACJ) published a to shed light on the crime of bombing homes and its danger to the societal fabric of Yemen and the country's security.

The report revealed "violations by the parties to the conflict, especially the Houthi group, which has blown up homes, displacing their residents, and killing many of them. House bombing violations caused deaths and injuries to civilians, both homeowners and neighbors."

The report noted that the ACJ "documented the fall of 27 victims, including 11 children and 5 women, who died under the rubble of their bombed homes, while 24 victims, including 9 children and 7 women, were injured."

The report said that the number of house bombings happened in multiple provinces, with the highest number of house bombings in Al-Bayda, which saw 118 house bombing violations. One hundred ten houses were bombed in Taiz, 76 houses in Al-Jawf, 73 houses in Saada, 62 houses in Ibb, 57 houses in Marib, 37 houses in Dhamar, 31 houses in Hajjah, 23 houses in Dhalea, 22 houses in Lahj, 21 houses in Amran, 14 houses in Al-Hudaydah, 10 houses in Shabwah, 5 houses in Abyan and one house in Aden.

The report indicated that "89% of the victims of house bombings were subjected to forced displacement from their original places. 65% of them took refuge in displacement camps in Marib, Taiz, Al-Dhalea, and Hajjah or moved to abandoned homes."

The bombing of houses caused a tragic loss to hundreds of Yemeni families that have been living in displacement and poverty. Despite the halt of war in Yemen since last year, the population continues to experience different forms of suffering, including the suspension of humanitarian aid they have been receiving for years.

The World Food Program (WFP) recently said it had stopped food distribution in north Yemen due to limited funding and disagreement with Houthi authorities over how to focus on the poorest in North Yemen. The WFP said the decision was taken in consultation with donors and came after a year of negotiations, and no agreement had been reached regarding the reduction of the beneficiaries to 6.5 million from 9.5 million.

According to the WFP, food distributions will continue in government-controlled areas with a heightened focus on the most vulnerable families. UN reports say Yemen remains one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, and an estimated 21.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance or protection.

Millions of families in Houthi-controlled territories depend on food aid provided by humanitarian organizations, and the stoppage of food distribution would cause them tremendous suffering.

Besides the ordeals of displacement and poverty, thousands of Yemenis remain in several prisons in Houthi and government-run areas. The parties to the conflict have not yet reached an agreement on releasing all prisoners.

The head of the government negotiating team in the prisoner and detainee swap file, Yahya Kazman, said that the Yemeni government is serious about a comprehensive prisoner swap based on the principle of "all for all".

He called on the Houthis to engage in talks and quickly end the suffering of prisoners and detainees, especially those who had been forcibly disappeared.