Yemeni tribal leaders present set of principles to ease war's humanitarian impact

Yemeni tribal leaders gathered at the United Nations on Thursday to launch an agreed set of principles aimed at protecting civilians and improving aid access in the war-ravaged country. They hope the measures will prove a useful step in easing the vast humanitarian crisis gripping the country. The Yemeni Tribal Code of Honour for the Protection of Civilians draws upon tribal customs, Islamic values and the principles of international humanitarian law. It was drafted over the past two years by tribal leaders and agreed by "tribes of Yemen from all areas, both government-controlled and Houthi-controlled", Sheikh Abdulkarim Al-Magdashi, who worked on the drafting process, told AFP. Some 5,000 leaders have signed the code, with around 100 coming to Geneva for the formal launch at the UN's Palais des Nations headquarters. "If the role of the tribes can be effective in achieving peace and protecting civilians, then hopefully they can also play a role in the political process," said Magdashi. A fighter loyal to Yemeni government fires a machine gun against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on 26 October 2026 (AFP)