2018 ARAB NEWS June 28, 2018 22:18 327 A coalition forces spokesman said that the UN report was based on inaccurate information provided by unreliable sources The coalition takes its responsibility for protecting all civilians in armed conflict, particularly children, very seriously: spokesman JEDDAH: The UN has been urged to tighten up procedures to avoid giving false information after the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen on Wednesday rejected the claims of violations attributed to the coalition, which were made by the UN in an annual report. A coalition forces spokesman said that the UN report was based on inaccurate information provided by unreliable sources. Following publication of the Annual Report of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, coalition spokesman Col. Turki Al-Maliki said the Arab coalition, founded at the request of the legitimate government of Yemen to protect the country and its people from Iranian-backed Houthi aggression, urged the UN to amend its procedures to ensure that no false information is included in its reports. The report clearly distinguishes between parties who have implemented measures to boost the protection of children, such as the coalition, and those, like the Houthi militias supported by Iran, who have not done so. The coalition takes its responsibility for protecting all civilians in armed conflict, particularly children, very seriously. Since the previous report published in August 2017, the coalition has continued to engage with and closely coordinate with all major UN agencies and NGOs with operations on the ground to ensure the protection of children. The coalition has also established the Child Protection Unit in the coalition’s headquarters (as reflected in the report) as means of improving the protection of children. The coalition welcomes the report’s recognition of the preventative and protective measures the coalition implemented in coordination with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba. In particular, the coalition welcomes the secretary-general’s acknowledgment of the positive impact of the coalition’s considerable efforts to protect hospitals, schools and other infrastructure critical to children, and the efforts made to return Yemeni children who were recruited by the Houthi militia and forced to fight on battlefields. The coalition provides these children with medical care, and counseling while the process of transferring them to their parents is under way. The report also recognizes the significant measures implemented by the legitimate government of Yemen to protect and ensure the well-being of Yemeni children.