Dubai: The Arab League has said that an annual report of the UN Secretary-General on the situation of children in the context of armed conflict in Yemen needed more accuracy, investigation and research.
Commenting on the report, which accused the coalition of crimes against children, Mahmoud Afifi, official spokesman of the Secretary-General of the Arab League, said the matter required a more accurate approach by the authors of the report in monitoring, recording and documenting the alleged violations by Arab Coalition in Yemen.
“Since Al Houthis are responsible for the large majority of violations, its important that the main source of information of violations be the legitimate government of Yemen,” he said.
He accused the UN of using unsubstantiated reports from the Iran-backed rebels when gathering material.
Afifi said that practical steps are needed to counter the severe deterioration in humanitarian and living conditions of the Yemeni people.
“This needs to be done as soon as possible and the efforts should be built on a constructive dialogue between the international community and the legitimate Yemeni government,” he said.
The “great efforts” made by the Arab coalition in aiding the Yemeni people should be also taken into account, he said.
He pointed to the work of the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Action, which has helped to rehabilitate children who were recruited as Al Houthi soldiers.
