ISTANBUL - By Gulsum Incekara (ANADOLU)- "Humanity dies in Yemen and a crime against humanity is underway," Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Yemeni activist Tawakkol Karman said on Monday.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Karman voiced her concern about the conflict in her country and underlined Turkey’s important role in attempting to ease tensions.

"Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates [UAE] and Iran turned Yemen into a battlefield to claim power for themselves. Yemen is becoming increasingly unbearable. This issue must be moved to the international community’s agenda urgently," Karman said.

"There is a complete occupation going on in Yemen. The cause of this occupation is the role played by the UAE in the country.

"Yemen was left to its own destiny. I think global actors have secret agendas in the region. Civilians and oppressed people are suffering the most. Yemen has become an area that the world has closed its eyes to," she explained.

Karman also praised Turkey’s efforts to ease suffering in the region.

"Turkey has made great efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Yemen. It became the conscience of humanity in my country. I assume Turkey’s role in Yemen is very important. I also believe that Turkey could solve the problem as well."

Tawakkol Karman was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 in recognition of her work in nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peacebuilding work in Yemen.

Impoverished Yemen has been wracked by conflict since 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies launched a wide-ranging military campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in Yemen.

 

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