Air strikes by the Saudi-Emirati coalition on a detention center run by the Houthi militia in the Yemeni city of Sa’da have left at least 100 people dead and wounded, according to an initial report by the International Red Cross.

While condemning these terrible attacks amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, I believe such unlawful actions reinforce the urgent need for an international investigation into violations of the laws of war committed by the military coalition in Yemen.

The continued targeting of civilians, civilian objects and infrastructure in Yemen by the Saudi-Emirati coalition without any international accountability or punishment would encourage further violence and terrorism against Yemenis and promote impunity.

In this context, I also express my condemnation of all forms of human rights violations by the Houthi militia, like targeting peaceful and defenseless civilians, indiscriminately attacking on cities and internally displaced person’s camps, laying land-mines and illegal arrests.

I hereby appeal to the United Nations and international and local organizations to assume their responsibilities in promoting and protecting human rights in Yemen by clearly condemning such violations and working to bring those responsible to trial for breaking human rights laws.