Human Rights Watch this week pointed to more violations of international law in Yemen, as the country continues to see civilian deaths caused by Houthis and Saudi-led coalition airstrikes alike.
With little public knowledge and media coverage of the poverty-stricken country, it took a long time for the public to realize the extent of Yemenis' problems. It wasn't until the Saudi-led coalition got involved in late March that there was significant international attention.
But it's not just humanitarian issues that haven't made public eye; it's the country's history. Among the stories left behind — the Sanaa Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site at risk amid the fighting.
Human Rights Watch earlier this week urged rival factions and the international community to protect the Old City from clashes in the rebel-controlled capital. The city has seen conflict since the Houthis moved into Sanaa in 2011, and historical houses have already been turned into rubble from the fighting.
“Beyond the loss of civilian lives, it would be a terrible additional loss to humanity if Sanaa’s Old City, inhabited for 2,500 years, became a battlefield,” Deputy Middle East Director Joe Stork said in a statement. “Both Houthi and coalition forces need to abide by international legal protections and keep the Old City out of any future fighting.”
International law gives special protections to UNESCO World Heritage sites in the midst of war, but that hasn't been enough to deter factions from inflicting damage to the structures. Syria's ancient city of Palmyra is a prime example of that.
Here's a look at historical Sanaa.
1. (Shutterstock)
2. (Shutterstock)
3. (Flickr/Richard Messenger)
4. (Shutterstock)
5. (Shutterstock)
6. (Shutterstock)
By Hayat Norimine
