“The Cost of Stagnation” … Report Documents Escalating Violations During the Truce in Yemen
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
A recent report by the SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties confirmed that the absence of effective accountability has remained a decisive factor in the reproduction of serious violations against civilians, despite a decline in direct military confrontations.
The report, titled “The Cost of Stagnation,” a copy of which was obtained by Yemen Monitor, documented 2,421 verified cases of serious violations. It noted that targeting civilians was the most prominent feature, with 2,025 incidents directly affecting civilians.
Regarding legal responsibility, SAM attributed the largest share of violations to the Houthi group at 93.5% of the total, followed by Israeli attacks (1.9%), and then U.S. operations (0.6%).
The report recorded 280 deaths and 170 injuries, with causes of death including gunfire (107 cases) concentrated in Ibb, Dhamar, and Sana’a; indiscriminate shelling (71 deaths), particularly in Taiz and Marib; and landmines, described as a “silent killer,” which claimed 40 victims in Al Hudaidah and Al Jawf.
In terms of freedoms, SAM documented an expansion of repression, recording 671 cases of arbitrary detention, 354 cases of enforced disappearance, and 68 cases of torture in detention, 36 of which resulted in death under torture, mostly in the capital, Sana’a.
The organization pointed to a systematic policy of “impoverishment and intimidation,” documenting 379 violations against property, including home raids, looting, and the demolition of 43 facilities and houses as collective punishment. It also highlighted the forced recruitment of employees and civilians into sectarian and military mobilization programs.
The report confirmed a severe deterioration in journalistic and humanitarian work, documenting 108 violations against journalists, in addition to the detention of around 70 UN staff members by the Houthis, and the death of a World Food Programme employee after 18 days in detention.
It also addressed the impact of external strikes, noting that Israeli attacks (around 48 strikes) resulted in the deaths of more than 120 people, while U.S. operations caused the deaths of at least 238 civilians (including 24 children) and injured 467 others over various periods during the year.
The capital secretariat, Sana’a, recorded the highest number of violations with 442 incidents, followed by Ibb (417), Dhamar (339), Saada (229), Al Bayda (194), and Taiz (128).
SAM concluded its report by calling on the international community to break the cycle of impunity, launch independent international investigations, and pressure for the immediate release of all detainees and forcibly disappeared persons held by all parties.
