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Ahead of U.N.’s Child Rights Blacklist, Saudis Stress Their Aid to Yemen Ahead of U.N.’s Child Rights Blacklist, Saudis Stress Their Aid to Yemen
(about 5 hours later)
Saudi Arabian diplomats have devoted enormous time and effort in recent days to emphasizing how much aid their kingdom has given to the war-ravaged civilians of Yemen.Saudi Arabian diplomats have devoted enormous time and effort in recent days to emphasizing how much aid their kingdom has given to the war-ravaged civilians of Yemen.
In at least three events last week at the United Nations, the Saudis stressed that they are, by far, the top donors of food, medicine and money to their neighbor. Yemen has been upended for more than two years by conflict between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led military coalition.In at least three events last week at the United Nations, the Saudis stressed that they are, by far, the top donors of food, medicine and money to their neighbor. Yemen has been upended for more than two years by conflict between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led military coalition.
But critics contend that the kingdom’s public relations campaign comes as the United Nations secretary general is weighing a decision that could embarrass Saudi Arabia: whether to put it on a list of countries that kill and maim children in war.But critics contend that the kingdom’s public relations campaign comes as the United Nations secretary general is weighing a decision that could embarrass Saudi Arabia: whether to put it on a list of countries that kill and maim children in war.
The secretary general, António Guterres, has been reviewing an annual report, called “Children and Armed Conflict,” which he is expected to release soon. In previous years, the report has included an annex that lists armies deemed responsible for killing and injuring children.The secretary general, António Guterres, has been reviewing an annual report, called “Children and Armed Conflict,” which he is expected to release soon. In previous years, the report has included an annex that lists armies deemed responsible for killing and injuring children.
Whether Mr. Guterres will put Saudi Arabia on the so-called child-killer list this year has become a matter of intense conjecture.Whether Mr. Guterres will put Saudi Arabia on the so-called child-killer list this year has become a matter of intense conjecture.
Focus on that decision has been further intensified by reports in recent days of Saudi bombings that killed civilians in Yemen, combined with alarm over famine and disease in the country. The United Nations described the situation last week as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Focus on that decision has been further intensified by reports in recent days of Saudi bombings that killed civilians in Yemen, combined with alarm over famine and disease in the country. The United Nations has described the situation as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Saudi Arabia was briefly named to the list of children’s rights violators in 2016 because of the Yemen war. The report found that Saudi-led bombardments were the leading cause of child deaths and injuries in Yemen last year.Saudi Arabia was briefly named to the list of children’s rights violators in 2016 because of the Yemen war. The report found that Saudi-led bombardments were the leading cause of child deaths and injuries in Yemen last year.
But under acute pressure from Saudi Arabia, Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general at the time, removed the country from the list — and in doing so implied that the Saudis had threatened to halt funding to the United Nations. Saudi Arabia denied it had made such a threat.But under acute pressure from Saudi Arabia, Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general at the time, removed the country from the list — and in doing so implied that the Saudis had threatened to halt funding to the United Nations. Saudi Arabia denied it had made such a threat.
A draft of the 2017 report, seen by The New York Times, did not include the annex, which diplomats said would be added to the final version. But the Yemen section of the draft asserted that “the killing and maiming of children remained the most prevalent violation” of child rights in that country last year. The report found that the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for the majority of child casualties, 683, compared with 414 by the Houthis and their allies. A draft of the 2017 report, seen by The New York Times, did not include the annex, which diplomats said would be added to the final version. But the Yemen section of the draft asserted that “the killing and maiming of children remained the most prevalent violation” of child rights in that country last year. The report found that the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for 683 child casualties, compared with 414 by the Houthis and their allies.
United Nations officials, including Mr. Guterres, have said the report was unfinished and declined to comment on its findings.United Nations officials, including Mr. Guterres, have said the report was unfinished and declined to comment on its findings.
During a visit to Kuwait on Sunday, Mr. Guterres denied that he had faced pressure from the Saudis.During a visit to Kuwait on Sunday, Mr. Guterres denied that he had faced pressure from the Saudis.
“We consider that no pressure would lead to anything,” Mr. Guterres told reporters, in remarks posted on the United Nations website. “There is technical work that is being conducted and, in the end, that will be presented to me. I will make the decision to what I think is the right thing to do.”“We consider that no pressure would lead to anything,” Mr. Guterres told reporters, in remarks posted on the United Nations website. “There is technical work that is being conducted and, in the end, that will be presented to me. I will make the decision to what I think is the right thing to do.”
The document is compiled by the special representative for children and armed conflict, who reports to Mr. Guterres. In April, Mr. Guterres appointed Virginia Gamba, an Argentine diplomat and disarmament expert, to the position.The document is compiled by the special representative for children and armed conflict, who reports to Mr. Guterres. In April, Mr. Guterres appointed Virginia Gamba, an Argentine diplomat and disarmament expert, to the position.
Foreign Policy magazine, quoting unidentified sources, reported this month that Ms. Gamba had recommended Saudi Arabia’s inclusion on the list. She declined to comment for this article. Foreign Policy magazine, quoting an unidentified source, reported this month that Ms. Gamba had recommended Saudi Arabia’s inclusion on the list. The magazine also reported that Ms. Gamba had declined to confirm such a recommendation. She could not be immediately reached for comment.
Saudi Arabia’s campaign at the United Nations to emphasize its humanitarian generosity in Yemen has been led by Abdallah Y. al-Mouallimi, the Saudi ambassador, and Abdullah al-Rabeeah, an adviser to the Royal Court and head of the country’s leading charity.Saudi Arabia’s campaign at the United Nations to emphasize its humanitarian generosity in Yemen has been led by Abdallah Y. al-Mouallimi, the Saudi ambassador, and Abdullah al-Rabeeah, an adviser to the Royal Court and head of the country’s leading charity.
At a briefing last week at the Saudi Mission to the United Nations, the two men stressed to representatives of the organization’s humanitarian agencies that Saudi assistance to Yemen had exceeded $8 billion since the conflict began.At a briefing last week at the Saudi Mission to the United Nations, the two men stressed to representatives of the organization’s humanitarian agencies that Saudi assistance to Yemen had exceeded $8 billion since the conflict began.
Officials from charities and human rights groups said they were not surprised that Saudi Arabia had been emphasizing those financial contributions.Officials from charities and human rights groups said they were not surprised that Saudi Arabia had been emphasizing those financial contributions.
“They’re trying to buy good will,” said Joel R. Charny, director of the United States operations for the Norwegian Refugee Council, which has been highly critical of Saudi Arabia’s military actions in Yemen.“They’re trying to buy good will,” said Joel R. Charny, director of the United States operations for the Norwegian Refugee Council, which has been highly critical of Saudi Arabia’s military actions in Yemen.
Given the concern about Mr. Guterres’s decision, Mr. Charny said, “it’s hard to believe it’s just a coincidence they would be mounting this public relations campaign.”Given the concern about Mr. Guterres’s decision, Mr. Charny said, “it’s hard to believe it’s just a coincidence they would be mounting this public relations campaign.”