HUNDREDS of world figures have urged the leaders of the United States, France and UK to stop “stoking the flames of war” in Yemen.
The statement, signed by 355 high-profile figures, marked the 1000th day of the war, which has turned the poorest Arab country into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
The signatories included eight Nobel peace laureates, religious leaders, Western lawmakers and rights defenders, as well as US Congresswomen Barbara Lee and Pramila Jayapal, and Congressman Ro Khanna, who are all Democrats.
The letter makes an appeal to Donald Trump, Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron.
It says: “To prevent further catastrophe and famine, Yemen needs an immediate ceasefire; an end to all blockages on access for food, fuel and medical supplies; and investment in a new, inclusive peace process.
“If you don’t want the burden of the lives of thousands more Yemeni children on your hands, then the time to act is now. Yemen can’t wait any longer.”
The appeal also called on the UN Security Council to press Saudi Arabia and its ally the United Arab Emirates, the main pillars of the coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, to end the war.
Also yesterday, the UN human rights office says it has verified the killings of 136 Yemeni civilians and other non-combatants in. Meanwhile, the coalition has said it intercepted a missile fired over southern Riyadh, which the Yemeni rebels said was aimed at the royal palace.
Rupert Colville, of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said UN officials are “deeply concerned” about a surge in civilian casualties.
Colville said the killings occurred between December 6 and 16 in four northern provinces. The air strikes, which also injured 87 people, hit targets including the rebel-run TV channel, a hospital in the port city of Hodeida, and a wedding party. One woman and nine children died in the latter, the rights office said.
On the missile fired at Riyadh, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam said the group targeted the Yamama Palace, tweeting that a ballistic Volcano H-2 missile was used.
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