NCIAVHR Conducts Field Investigation into Recent Civilian Targeting Incidents in Al-Ma’afer and Jabal Habashi, Taiz

Taiz | November 10, 2024

Today, a team from the National Commission to Investigate Alleged Violations of Human Rights (NCIAVHR) conducted a field visit to the villages of Al-Mansoura in the Jabal Habashi district and Al-Hanaya in Al-Kadha, Al-Ma’afer district, located in southern Taiz governorate. The purpose of the visit was to investigate recent shelling incidents that endangered the lives and safety of several civilians, including women and children, in violation of international humanitarian law and human rights protections.

During the visit, Commission member Judge Ishraq Al-Maqtari and accompanying researchers gathered testimonies from eyewitnesses, as well as complaints and reports from residents detailing the shelling incidents that breached the humanitarian truce. The latest incidents took place last week, with previous events occurring in September and November, resulting in the deaths or injuries of six civilians, among them children and women. The team also documented incidents involving landmine explosions that led to the amputation of limbs for five civilians.

The Commission collected testimonies from residents of Al-Mansoura, Al-Hanaya, and Al-Kadha to document the impact of shelling, sniper attacks, and landmines on the community. These incidents have severely disrupted residents’ access to humanitarian aid, particularly healthcare. The team assessed the extent of property damage, including destruction to homes, farms, schools, and roads, and recorded the residents’ demands for justice and compensation.