Coalition wants urgent talks over MSF Yemen pullout

Pro-government forces a step closer to taking vital road.

A damaged building is pictured in the war-torn southwestern city of Taiz, Yemen August 17, 2016. Anees Mahyoub / Reuters

ADEN // The Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen is seeking urgent talks with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) over the charity’s withdrawal of staff from six hospitals in the north of the country.

The medical charity said “indiscriminate bombings” by all sides had made it lose confidence in the security situation for its facilities. The coalition responded, saying, “We very much regret MSF’s decision to evacuate staff from six hospitals in northern Yemen. We are seeking urgent discussions with MSF to understand how we can work together to resolve this situation.” The charity’s work “under difficult circumstances” was greatly valued in Yemen, added the coalition.

MSF’s decision came after 19 people died last Monday in an air raid on Abs hospital which MSF supports in the rebel-held northern province of Hajja.

The Saudi-led coalition has come under criticism over air strikes but has issued repeated assurances that it uses highly accurate laser and GPS-guided weapons and verifies targets many times to ensure civilian casualties are avoided. The coalition, which includes UAE military forces, is also conducting an independent investigation into the Abs incident and an air raid on a Quoranic school which was also in rebel-held territory. A statement from the coalition said, “The coalition is committed to full respect for international humanitarian law in the conduct of our operations in Yemen.”

Meanwhile on the second day of an offensive, pro-government forces inched closer to breaking the year-long Houthi siege on the southern city of Taez. The Yemeni army captured a vital road which was the only remaining route between the rebel held part ofTaez province and the port of Aden, which is in government hands.

Dhia Al Haq, commander of the popular resistance — which supports the government — in Al Dhabab, on the outskirts of Taez, said Al Dhaba fighters had linked up with fighters from Taez city and pushed back the Houthis to Sharab roundabout, whereupon some fled into Ibb province.

The commander said retaking the road was the first step in a two-step plan to break the siege. The second step will be to clear landmines from the road and eliminate Houthi snipers from the surrounding hills.

“ The road is heavily mined so we must concentrate on sweeping the area to avoid unnecessary loss of life among the fighters,” said the commander. He added that there were women combatants among his forces, as well as first-aiders tending to the wounded and distributing water.