Statement of Condemnation

#Yemen: April 8, 2019, the Women's Solidarity Network strongly condemns the attack on the girls, students of Al-Ra'i school in Sawan, Sana'a, as a result of yesterday's massive explosion that killed seven girls and injured dozens of civilians.

While the warring parties are blaming each other, the Network regrets the continued disregard of International Humanitarian Law, endangering the lives of children and civilians.

We call upon all parties to the conflict to take the necessary measures to protect civilians and to neutralize populated areas starting with Sana’a.

We urge the parties to undertake immediately the following security measures:

- The Yemeni Government and the Coalition must initiate Sana’a as a freeze zone and stop air bombarding campaign targeting Sanaa.

- The Houthi group should demilitarize the city starting with removing all military camps, manufacturing workshops, and depots the outskirts and stop using civilians as human shields.

- The legitimate government and the Houthi group should allow the Group of Eminent Experts access to investigate alleged human rights violations and abuses, to visit the site of the explosion and investigate independently, to uncover the facts and identify those responsible for the violations and abuses to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.

We stand in solidarity with the families of all the victims. We pray for those killed and hope for a speedy recovery to all those injured.

Issued by the Women Solidarity Network