Stop shelling civilians in Yemen, urge MEPs

Press release

Plenary sessions [25-02-2016 - 13:01]

A ceasefire that halts attacks against civilians, medical and aid workers, ground
fighting and shelling in Yemen is urgently needed to allow life-saving aid to reach
the Yemeni people, said MEPs in a resolution voted on Thursday. They also called
on all parties in Yemens civil war and their foreign backers to engage in a new
round of peace negotiations and seek a political settlement.
The European Parliament is gravely concerned at the deterioration of humanitarian
situation in Yemen. The failure of successive governments there to meet the Yemeni
peoples aspirations for democracy, stability and security led to the current crisis, which
has left 21 million Yemeni people (82% of the total population) needing humanitarian
assistance and prevented two million children from attending school, the resolution says.
MEPs urge Yemens warring parties to abide by a ceasefire deal, to allow life-saving aid,
such as food or medicine, to reach the Yemeni people. They also call on all sides to refrain
from directly targeting civilian infrastructure, medical facilities and water systems.
The resolution acknowledges that Saudi Arabia and Iran are instrumental in resolving the
crisis in Yemen, but it also expresses grave concern "at the airstrikes by the Saudi-led
coalition and the naval blockade it has imposed on Yemen, which have led to thousands of
deaths, [and] have further destabilised Yemen". MEPs call on EU diplomacy chief
Federica Mogherini "to launch an initiative aimed at imposing an EU arms embargo
against Saudi Arabia".
MEPs stress that only a political, inclusive and negotiated solution to the conflict can
restore peace and preserve unity in Yemen. They urge all parties to engage in a new
round of UN-led peace negotiations as soon as possible.
The resolution was passed by 449 votes to 36, with 78 abstentions.
Background information

Since early in 2015 forces loyal to President, Abd-Rabbuh Mansour al-Hadi, have been
fighting Shia rebels known as Houthis. In March, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia
responded to a call for help from Mr Hadi by launching air strikes on Houthi targets. The
coalition comprises five Gulf Arab states, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and is backed
by the USA and the UK.
Further information

Adopted texts will be available here (click on 25.02.2016): http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/textsadopted.html

Video recording of the debate on Yemen (20.01.2016): http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/en/plenary/video?debate=1453302168441&streamingLanguage=en
Procedure file:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2016/2515(RSP)&l=en

Political groups

EN

News page of the EPP group: http://www.eppgroup.eu/press-releases

Press release by the S&D group: http://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/newsroom/european-parliamentsvote-saudi-arms-embargo-will-be-humanitarian-appeal-end-bloodshed
News page of the ECR group: http://ecrgroup.eu/news/

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