A quarter of all civilian casualties across Yemen in 2019 were recorded in Hodeidah governorate. Despite a ceasefire in the port city being at the heart of last year’s Stockholm Agreement, Hodeidah has seen 799 civilian casualties since the Agreement was signed, the highest toll countrywide.
On Monday, 18 November, at the United Nations in Geneva, States’ delegations, militaries, UN agencies and civil society will gather to start negotiations on a political declaration against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
For the eight year in a row, international campaigners from all over the world and engaged to promote disarmament convened for a two days meeting bound to share experience, lessons learnt and practices but also to join efforts and face together common challenges.
Humanity & Inclusion was in NY (US), to encourage states to join the joint statement on the use of explosive weapons delivered by Ireland during the debate on conventional weapons of the UN General Assembly’s 1st Committee.
The Syria INGO Regional Forum, comprising 73 INGOs responding to the Syria crisis, expressed deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation since Turkey’s military operation started on the 9 October.
After nearly a decade of nation-wide conflict, the Turkish incursion into northeast Syria reignites the cycle of violence, worry and uncertainty for people living in the area. HI is deeply concerned about how the military escalation will affect the civilian population.
133 states gathered for two days at the Vienna Conference “Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare”. A majority of attendants announced that they were ready to work on a political declaration.
On the eve of the Conference “Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare”, Humanity & Inclusion (HI)’s representatives were in Vienna, on September 30, to finalize preparations. Hence, they had the opportunity to meet with the national delegations before the opening of discussions, and with other members of the NGOS network INEW (International Network on Explosive Weapons).
As conflicts are increasingly fought in cities, civilians represent 90% of the victims. States gather at the Vienna Conference on October 1st and 2nd to find a political solution to the harm caused by bombing in urban warfare.