By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter Middle East Desk

SA’DA, Yemen – The United Nations (UN) is renewing its efforts to stabilize the conflict in the Sa’da region of Yemen between government forces and the Al-Huthi rebels. Following an air raid on which killed over eighty civilians, the international community calling for both a ceasefire to allow aid in to the region and for an investigation into the attack. The UN currently estimates that 150,000 people have been displaced in the north by the fighting since 2004.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has called on the Yemeni government and the Al-Huthi fighters to a cease fire to allow humanitarian aid the reach affected northern regions. He also expressed concern about the large number of civilian deaths in the region. The US embassy in the capital city of Sana’a has also called for a 72-hour ceasefire to allow access for aid and has welcomed the Yemeni government’s announcement that it will hold in investigation into the devastating raids.

Further Navi Pillay, the UN High Commission for Human Rights, called for an inquiry into the air raids and described the casualty reports “deeply disturbing.” The High Commissioner’s spokesman, Rupert Colville, says Pillay is urging the government to investigate and refrain from launching similar attacks in the future.

Another main concern of the High Commissioner is the limited access of aid workers in the region.  As a result, civilians are being deprived of much needed food, water, and medication. UN refugee spokesman Melissa Fleming calls the humanitarian situation alarming and illustrates this by saying, “five weeks into the conflict, Sa’da City remains virtually isolated and inaccessible for the UN humanitarian community.”  The UN efforts to gain assistance to the people of Sa’da through Saudi Arabia are still pending security clearances from both governments. Aid agencies are strapped for cash and their appeals to the international community are still falling on deaf ears

For more information please see:

UN News Centre – As fighting resumes in Yemen, UN agency renews call for aid corridor – 22 September 2009

VOA News – UN rights official calls for investigation into Yemeni Civilian Deaths – 18 September 2009

Al- Jazeera – UN calls for Yemen Ceasefire – 19 September 2009