Today my colleagues , , , & I are presenting the results of a new #opensource investigation into the UAE-armed militias in Yemen. The breadth of diversion, of all types of weapons, is stunning. 1/ arms-uae.amnesty.org/en/
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The Saudi-led Coalition is regularly called to account for its record of conducting airstrikes against civilian targets. And for good reason - thousands have died in those attacks. But the UAE's unaccountable militias have been committing abuses as well, and deserve scrutiny.
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We analyzed photos and video from a variety of sources, including images posted on social media from the militias themselves, as well as content from media outlets. youtube.com/watch?v=6bpSiN
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Much of the content came from last year's fighting in Hodeidah, when UAE-backed militias tried to seize the valuable port. The UN says 20 million Yemenis are hungry because this blockaded port sits nearly empty,
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But some photos and videos also come from the south, where the UAE militias run detention centers. Amnesty documented torture and abuse in this prisons last year. amnestyusa.org/wp-content/upl
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After scouring this content, here's what we found: armored vehicles from all over the world. American MaxxPro and Oshkosh M-ATVs in large numbers, but also Finnish Patrias, South African RGs, and even French Leclerc tanks.
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The variety of small arms and ammunition is even more numerous. Singaporean 120mm mortar systems, Serbian mortars and Zastava M02 Coyote machine guns, and Belgian FN Minimis, to name just a few.
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Why does this matter? Because these militias are committing human rights abuses, and selling arms to the UAE, a state known to divert weapons to these groups, violates the Arms Trade Treaty. 20 countries are still actively selling. amnesty.org/en/latest/news
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Listen, this isn't rocket science. When you see a war ripe with abuse, common sense says to stop giving guns to the perpetrators. Amnesty is calling on all countries to stop selling arms to the UAE. #YemenCantWait /end
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