June, 11 2018, 12:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jonathan Hutson,Chief Communications Officer,jhutson [at] phrusa [dot] org,Tel: (617) 301-4210,Cell: (857) 919-5130
Yemeni Port of Hodeidah, a Civilian Lifeline, Must Remain Operational
Physicians for Human Rights calls on all parties in conflict to exercise military restraint.
New York, NY
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is deeply alarmed by reports of an imminent military assault by Saudi and UAE-backed troops on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
The following statement is attributable to Homer Venters, PHR's director of programs:
"PHR condemns any military assault on Hodeidah and calls on the United States, France, and the UK - as well as regional players - to take swift action and leadership to give the international community a strong voice against this planned military assault, and to push for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. An assault on this vital port city, which serves as a lifeline to hundreds of thousands of civilians, would have a devastating humanitarian outcome, including famine, in a country where the civilian populations is already crippled by starvation and despair.
"PHR urges all parties in the Yemen conflict to take the lives of the innocent civilians into account in this civil war which has created one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Hodeidah must be kept operational. All parties must exercise military restraint and work towards an inclusive peace process, led by the United Nations, which will bring about meaningful negotiations. A military attack should be avoided at all costs."
Read more about Physicians for Human Rights' Yemen work.
PHR was founded in 1986 on the idea that health professionals, with their specialized skills, ethical duties, and credible voices, are uniquely positioned to investigate the health consequences of human rights violations and work to stop them. PHR mobilizes health professionals to advance health, dignity, and justice and promotes the right to health for all.
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