Sana'a: The National Human Rights Commission has confirmed that the recent death of conjoined twins during a challenging overland journey from Sana'a to Aden is a direct consequence of the collective punishment policy imposed on Yemen. This tragic event has drawn attention to the severe restrictions faced by Yemeni citizens, particularly those in need of urgent medical care.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Commission expressed deep sorrow over the incident, which occurred on Saturday, August 8. The conjoined twins, who required intricate surgical intervention unavailable in Yemen, passed away while traveling overland after being unable to access treatment abroad due to the continued closure of Sana'a International Airport to civilian flights since August 8, 2016. This closure has forced many patients to undertake perilous journeys by land, often with fatal outcomes.
The Commission emphasized that the deaths of these twins are a direct result of policies that have effectively isolated the Yemeni people by closing the nation's only air outlet for medical evacuations. It highlighted that denying citizens the right to seek life-saving treatment abroad is a serious violation of international laws, including Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Human Rights Commission placed full responsibility on the coalition countries, led by Saudi Arabia, for the death of the twins and similar tragedies. It called for the immediate reopening of Sana'a International Airport to allow civilian flights, especially those for medical evacuations. The Commission also urged international bodies, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF, to document these violations and work towards ending them.
The statement concluded by asserting that the right to life is non-negotiable and criticized the international community's silence on the issue, labeling it as unjust complicity. The Commission called for accountability for those responsible for the siege and urged for an end to the policy of impunity.