Humanity & Inclusion (HI) welcomes temporary freeze of U.S. arms sales to parties to Yemen conflict

Approximately 20,000 civilians have been killed since the start of the conflict in Yemen. 20.1 million people - nearly two-thirds of the population - required food assistance in 2020, making Yemen the world’s worst food security crisis (Human Rights Watch 2021 report). 80% of Yemen’s population need humanitarian aid, including over 12 million children (UNICEF).

“This decision is a first step to stop fueling the conflict in Yemen. Humanity & Inclusion (HI) encourages the Biden Administration to permanently bar any arms sales that would cause harm to civilian populations.

The conflict has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and widespread hunger. Continuous fighting and massive use of explosive weapons in urban areas have had disastrous humanitarian consequences for civilians. March 26th will mark the 6th anniversary of the conflict, and Yemen is today the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. Arms sales have been a major driving factor of this catastrophe.

On this conflict, states must make a choice: selling weapons to parties to the conflict or protecting civilians. HI calls on States to make the right decision by definitively suspending their arms sales to parties to the conflict. France, the United Kingdom and any state selling arms to parties to the conflict must acknowledge their responsibility and put an end to their exports. Every day, our teams in Yemen care for people whose lives, bodies and minds have been torn apart by violence,”

says Anne Héry, HI’s Director of Advocacy.