Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday urged [press release] Saudi Arabia and other coalition members to create an independent international inquiry into their attacks on civilian economic structures in Yemen. HRW cited its report [textt], “Bombing Businesses: Saudi Coalition Airstrikes on Yemen’s Civilian Economic Structures,” stating that airstrikes have killed 130 and injured 171 civilians and destroyed factories, commercial warehouses, a farm and two power facilities. The human rights organization concluded that the airstrikes on civilian economic structures have shattered Yemen’s economy and that the strikes were intended to unlawfully do so. HRW also called on Saudi Arabia to be suspended from membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) until it “ceases unlawful strikes and either conducts investigations that meeter national standards or agrees to an independent international inquiry.” HRW said [Yemen News Agency report] that Saudi Arabia and its allies have violated international humanitarian law and are “considered war crimes” through the raids against Yemen.

The rapidly deteriorating situation in Yemen has sparked significant international concern. Last month Amnesty International (AI) and HRW issued a joint statement [JURIST report] calling for the removal of Saudi Arabia from the UNHRC. Also last month the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned [JURIST report] a string of rocket and mortar attacks against residential areas and markets in Yemen. In May a UN Envoy for Yemen announced [JURIST report] that peace negotiations between Yemeni parties in Kuwait were off to an “encouraging start that will set the ground for a negotiated solution.” In April the UN Envoy for Yemen told [JURIST report] the UN Security Council that Yemen was at a “critical crossroads” as peace talks between the government and Houthis were scheduled to begin the following week.