- UN report accuses Saudi-led forces of killing and maiming 683 children and bombing 38 schools and hospitals in Yemen in 2016
- UK has licensed almost £4 billion worth of arms to the Saudi regime since the bombing began in March 2015
The latest United Nations annual report on children in conflict has listed the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen on its list of groups and states that have violated the rights of children.
The report accuses Saudi forces of killing and maiming 683 children in 2016, as well as 38 verified attacks on schools and hospitals. The report also listed other actors of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, including the Houthi rebels, Yemeni government forces and others.
Saudi-forces had been listed in the draft version of the same report last year, although it was removed from the final version following what the then-UN chief Ban Ki-moon described as ‘unacceptable’ pressure and threats from Saudi Arabia.
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
The United Nations has accused Saudi-led forces of killing hundreds of children and destroying schools and hospitals, yet it is by far the largest buyer of UK arms. Only last month the regime was in London buying arms as the DSEI arms fair. What more will it take for Theresa May and her colleagues to say that enough is enough?
Despite this, the UK has continued to arm the Saudi regime. Since the bombing of Yemen began in March 2015, the UK has licensed £3.8 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, including:
- £2.6 billion worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
- £1.1 billion worth of ML4 licences (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
- £572,000 worth of ML6 licences (Armoured vehicles, tanks)
Andrew continued:
History will look very badly on this period and the startling hypocrisy that has underpinned UK policy. The UK government talks about human rights, but it has offered uncritical political and military support to one of the most brutal regimes in the world while it wages a terrible bombing campaign that is killing thousands of people.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297.
