Saudi authorities burn Yemeni migrants

Saudi authorities burned 18 Yemeni migrants in Khamis Mushait, located near the borders of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, before deporting them to Yemen last week.

The victims said that they were hiding in a hole they had dug when Saudi policemen and coast guards sprayed benzene and then set fire to the whole area, including their hiding place.

All victims were from al-Mihsam and Dair Kynnah, west of Bajil city of the Hodeidah governorate.

They claim that four Saudi police vehicles chased them, and that they ran to hide in a hole about seven kilometers to the south of Khamis Mushait city, 40 days ago.

After seeking refuge in the hole, they said that the Saudi policemen and coastguards sprayed benzene in the whole area and threatened to set fire to force them to surrender. Seven persons took the threat seriously and ran away, while 18 others stayed in the hole thinking the threat was not serious. Unexpectedly, the Saudi police set fire to the benzene, leading to the burning of 18 victims.s

One victim’s body was completely burned, while five others were severely wounded. The rest suffered from burns on their hands, legs and other parts of body.

Last week the victims were deported to Yemen despite their injuries. Sources in Hodeidah city, where the victims were brought, said that the victims have been treated in al-Thowra hospital in Hodeidah and three of them were transferred to the special burns unit in al-Gumhori hospital in Sana’a. Five others are still being treated in al-Thawra hospital in Hodeidah and the rest have left the hospital.

The sources said that investigations are carried on with the victims to know the facts of the event before communicating with the Saudi authorities in charge. 

According to al-Sahwa-yemen.net, who first published the story before the Yemeni authorities have discovered the case, 
 
the victims called upon the Yemeni government and the international organizations in charge to communicate with the Saudi authorities that should deal with the police of Khamis Mushait and bring them to justice for this brutal crime they committed. They also called for compensating them for the burns and for the health and psychological damages they are suffering from.

According to al-Sahwa, the victims claimed the Saudi authorities had forced them to write concessions before they were deported to Yemen.  The Saudi Embassy has been tried to be contacted numerous times for comment but could not be reached.

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