The city of Taiz saw a new tragedy. Houthi group gunmen launched the sixth indiscriminate shell on Sunday night July 1, 2018. The shell hit a residential area near the governorate level in Taiz in the eastern side of the city killing two people, including a child (Rahaf Ahmed Abdullah), and injuring four others, including three children, all from the same family. Child victims were playing in the yard of their house when a mortar shell fell amongst them killing some of them and injuring others. The scene of victims and injuries was ugly with the shrapnel penetrating their bodies. This crime was witnessed by human rights activists and civil society organizations in Taiz as they visited victims in hospitals. 

This is not the only incident but comes in a series of indiscriminate attacks by Houthi armed group against civilians in the city of Taiz. 

We, civil society activists and organizations in the city of Taiz condemn in the strongest words this brutal massacre that falls within the legal description in the four Geneva conventions 1948 and the additional protocols as a war crime. 

The heinous crimes committed by Houthi armed group against residents of Taiz province including the indiscriminate shelling; the laying of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines randomly; and the blockade imposed on the city since three years are faced with a shameful international silence, statements and reports issued by international organizations and the Human Affairs Coordinator in Yemen neglect the suffering of civilians in Taiz and violations perpetrated against them. 

This disgraceful silence by organizations operating in Yemen and responsible for protection of civilians is striking. Houthi group treats this silence as an indicator to continue these violations. 

International organizations concerned with protection of civilians and children operating in Yemen did not move until today to lift the blockade imposed on the city for three years. 

The role of your organizations in protecting and promoting rights of civilians require you to deliver what is happening to the international community credibly. We hope this statement is a message to promote partnerships with your civil society activists in Taiz to protect and promote the dignity of civilians and protect human rights in general.

Issued on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. 

Issued by civil society organizations, activists and media workers in Taiz 

Justice and Equality Development and Human Rights Organization 

Yemeni Legal Center 

Humanitarian Rights and Development Center 

Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations (Rasd Coalition) 

Wethaq Civic Foundation 

Social Peace Organization 

Yemeni Justice and Development Center 

Development Path and Human Rights Organization 

National Development Organization 

Advocacy Organization 

Justice, Rights and Development Organization 

Olfat Al Dubai – Sociology Professor 

Faisal Al Hothaifi – Academic 

Tawfiq Al Shabi – Lawyer and Human Rights Activist 

Yasser Al Mulaiki – Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Abdul Kahleq Saif – Intellectual and Activist 

Sawsan Hadrami – Academic – Taiz University 

Hayat Al Dobhani – Humanitarian Activist 

Muna Luqman – Media Worker 

Omar Al Hemyari – Lawyer and Human Rights Activist 

Akram Al Shawafi – Human Rights Activist 

Wissam Mohammed – Journalist 

Amal Al Sabri – Lawyer 

Abdul Salam Razzaz - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Ahmed Al Dumaini – Human Rights Activity 

Samar Al Absi – Legal Researcher 

Zakaria Al Sharabi – Media Worker 

Wajdi Al Salmi – Journalist 

Hayel Al Hilali - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Anissa Al Hamzi – Human Rights Activist 

Hamoud Al Deeb - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Fahd Al Omairi – Activist 

Rashed Mohammed – Lawyer 

Ahlam Al Hamodi – Media Activist

Raya Al Jandi – Media Worker 

Mohammed Modhish – Human Rights Activist 

Dhi Yazan Al Sawai - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Abdeer Abdullah – Journalist 

Abdullah Al Tamimi - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Weam Al Sofi – Journalist 

Misk Al Makrami – Social Activist 

Maher Al Absi – Human Rights Activist 

Dalia Mohammed – Humanitarian Activist 

Nasim Al Odaini – Humanitarian Activist 

Mohammed Al Humaidi - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Mohammed Al Hodaifi – Journalist 

Abdul Qawi Al Azzani – Journalist 

Ali Al Awadhi – Journalist 

Marwan Al Dawsari - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Rafikah Al Kamali – Human Rights Activist 

Ridhwan Shamsan – Human Rights Activist 

Fadh Al Mikhlafi – Press Photographer 

Ali Al Hadki - Lawyer and Human Rights Activist

Yassin Al Zikri – Journalist 

Yassin Al Aklani – Journalist