The Houthi rebels and the Saleh-allied militias had committed 20 different kinds of human rights violations in 17,123 cases, Qaher Mustafa, of the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations to Human Rights in Yemen, told Al-Riyadh Arabic paper. In an interview, Mustafa said that the Commission had completed its investigation into 10,594 cases and had examined 16,191 reporters, victims and witnesses. Al-Riyadh has obtained a copy of the report prepared by the National Commission to be submitted to Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. In the report, the Commission has confirmed that it looked into thousands of documents, photos and videos and made a number of fact-finding visits to several spots, including areas of armed conflict. The Commission, in its report, said it had prepared 3,000 files of its investigations. It had to face several challenges while examining and documenting evidence as part of the investigations, the report said. he National Commission accused the Houthis and Saleh militias of targeting residential areas and violating international humanitarian law while conductions its armed operations. The Commission also detected several obstacles laid by the rebels to block legitimate aid to civilians, particularly to people in the Taiz governorate. The Commission asserted that the rebels deliberately laid anti-personnel mines causing harm to civilians in the governorates controlled by the terror groups. The Commission appealed to the rebels to destroy the stockpile of mines in their possession. The report affirmed that the rebels recruited children for warfare. It called on them to immediately halt this practice, and instead focus on the upkeep of schools, hospitals and state foundations, and not to misuse them for purposes of combat. Qaher Mustafa The Commission also asserted that the rebels are responsible for the abduction, torture and inhumane treatment of the common people. It called for the unconditional release of all detainees and those who have been taken by force. It further called for desisting from using war as a pretext for undermining freedom, blocking websites, and prosecuting journalists – all of which are flagrant violations of international human rights law. The report listed its biggest challenges as the continued militancy, the daily killing of people in the disputed areas, and the indiscriminate attack by the rebels on civilians and houses. The Commission also criticized the rebels for their non-cooperation in the investigation and hindering access to the affected people in the areas under their control. It also condemned the deteriorating health situation in the rebel-held quarters and their refusal to submit the required medical documents and criminal reports. It appealed for the immediate halt to hostilities against civilians by the rebels and to make a clear distinction between the combatants and the common people. It also called for ceasing assaults on civilian properties, educational and medical facilities, cultural centers, and infrastructure, which are all protected by international law. The Commission further stressed that the militias should provide civilians with supplies of food, water, medical care, and other humanitarian services.
