The UK High Court has dealt a deadly blow to the people of Yemen by ruling that the UK government may continue selling arms to Saudi Arabia despite what Amnesty believes is a clear risk they will be used to commit human rights violations.

The court case, brought by Campaign Against the Arms Trade, called on arms sales to Saudi Arabia to be stopped because of the high risk that the weeps would be used to commit war crimes in the war in Yemen.

Evidence

Our research has shown that UK bombs have been used in the war in Yemen. Together with he UN and other NGOs we have been warning that the Saudi Arabia-led coalition’s patter of attacks across Yemen shows disregard for civilian life. 13,000 civilians have been killed or injured in the war so far. 

War in Yemen

The war in Yemen has raged since March 2015. The armed conflict is between the internationally recognised government of President Hadi, supported by a Saudi Arabia-led international coalition, and the Huthi armed group and allied forces, which included army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Huthis and forces allied to former President Saleh control the capital, Sana’a, and other areas. President Hadi’s government control southern parts of Yemen including the areas of Lahj and Aden.

13,000 civilians have been killed and injured and 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes. 

The country is facing the worst cholera outbreaks world wide with over 200,000 suspected cases in the last two months. 

7 million civilians in Yemen are on the brink of famine and more that 21 million people are in need to some form of humanitarian assistance. 

Arms Trade Treaty

For over 20 years we campaigned for the international Arms Trade Treaty which the UK has signed. This was a monumental achievement and means that the UK is obligated to take steps to ensure that its arms transfers are not sued to commit serious violations of international law. The UK government must live up to its obligations and stop all arms sales to Saudi Arabia.