A comprehensive investigation conducted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) reveals shocking allegations of Saudi border guards engaging in a targeted campaign resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Ethiopian migrants attempting to cross into Saudi Arabia from Yemen. The investigation highlights the possibility that these actions may constitute crimes against humanity, escalating an already concerning pattern of violence and rights violations on the Saudi-Yemen border.
HRW's investigation utilized satellite imagery, photographs, survivor testimonies, and forensic analysis to build a disturbing picture of escalating violence aimed at Ethiopian migrants. The alleged abuses include:
Indiscriminate use of explosive weapons: Saudi border forces are accused of employing explosive weapons against migrants, including women and children. Witnesses recounted horrific scenes of mass casualties caused by shelling, with trails strewn with the bodies of victims. Survivors reported unprecedented levels of violence and suffering.
“I saw people killed in a way I have never imagined. I saw 30 killed people on the spot,”
Hamdiya, a 14-year-old girl, shared with researchers that she had crossed the border as part of a group of 60 individuals.
“I cover violence at borders, but I have never come across something of this nature, the use of explosive weapons including against women and children,”
HRW’s lead researcher on the report, Nadia Hardman said.
Forced rape and execution: Shocking claims emerged that Saudi border forces compelled a survivor to rape another survivor under threat of execution. These allegations reveal the depths of cruelty inflicted upon migrants, exposing the gravity of the human rights abuses. Survivors who managed to cross the border were allegedly subjected to close-range shootings, with border guards instructing them to choose a limb to be shot. This grim reality illustrates the calculated and sadistic nature of the alleged abuses.
Humanitarian crisis and global concerns: The investigation emphasizes that the alleged violence has created a humanitarian crisis affecting hundreds of Ethiopian migrants seeking refuge in Saudi Arabia. The scale of abuse, as outlined in the report, raises concerns that these acts may amount to crimes against humanity. The report points to the wider implications of such actions, with mounting evidence of an established pattern of rights violations on the Saudi-Yemen border.
The Saudi government acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but strongly contested the UN's characterization of the killings as systematic or large-scale. It asserted that the available information failed to provide conclusive evidence supporting these claims, BBC reported.
While the shocking allegations in the report demand immediate attention, the Saudi government's categorical denial of prior claims and allegations underscores the need for a robust and independent international investigation. The international community's response to these allegations, especially in light of plans to welcome Saudi Arabia's crown prince to London, will be a crucial indicator of global commitment to upholding human rights and justice.
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