A/HRC/42/17 documenting that at least 12 boys as young as 12 years of age were recruited – in Amran, Ta’izz, Sana’a and Sa’dah governorates – and used by the Houthis between June 2018 and July 2019. Four of the children (between 14 and 16 years old) were used in combat roles, and one 12-year-old was used as a porter. The figures provided by the Secretary-General of children recruited by the Houthis would appear to indicate that Houthi recruitment is more prevalent than the Group has been able to verify. 84. Government of Yemen and coalition-affiliated forces also continued to recruit children. The Group of Experts verified the recruitment of children (all boys), since 2017, by the Security Belt Forces backed by the United Arab Emirates, the Shabwah Elite and Giants Brigade forces, the Yemeni armed forces, and affiliated resistance groups from Ta’izz. The Group received information indicating that these groups had recruited at least 27 children as young as 13 years old. This included at least 22 children – some as young as 13 years old – recruited by Security Belt and Giants Brigade forces backed by the United Arab Emirates, used in combat roles throughout the military campaign in Al-Hudaydah in 2018. Five boys reportedly died and five others were injured during that campaign. Shabwah Elite forces continued to recruit children, with five children aged between 14 and 16 years recruited during a new campaign in January 2019, one of whom was reportedly killed in combat. The Group also verified cases of child recruitment by resistance groups in Aden in 2015 and 2016. 85. The Group of Experts has reasonable grounds to believe that the Houthis, Yemeni armed forces, affiliated resistance groups and the Security Belt, Giants Brigade and Shabwah Elite forces backed by the United Arab Emirates committed violations of international human rights law by recruiting children. Individuals in those groups may also have been responsible for the war crime of conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or of using them to participate actively in hostilities. 86. The damage and destruction to which health facilities have been subjected continued to limit access to health care in Yemen. In addition, communicable diseases and limited or no access to life-saving vaccines left children at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality related to vaccine-preventable diseases. According to humanitarian service providers, as at December 2018, 2 million children under 5 years of age and 1.14 million pregnant and lactating women required treatment for acute malnutrition. Children presenting clear symptoms of psychological distress have evidenced the impact of the conflict on the mental health of children. 87. The Group of Experts documented the military use of at least 18 schools in Ta’izz, which rendered them military targets. The schools had been used since 2015; first by the Houthis, then by the Yemeni armed forces, Security Belt Forces backed by the United Arab Emirates and Sudanese forces as part of the coalition. The Group received similar reports from Al-Hudaydah. It also documented incidents of children being killed or injured while attending or on their way to school. For example, on 7 April 2019, in Sawan, Sana’a, a military facility storing weapons and explosive material set up near three schools by Houthi fighters exploded, killing at least 10 students (eight girls and two boys) and injuring dozens. VI. Accountability 88. The Group of Experts remains concerned about the pervasive lack of accountability for the violations of international law committed by all parties to the conflict in Yemen, many of which may amount to war crimes. 89. The National Commission of Inquiry is an essential body to address impunity. To that end, it must be structurally and functionally independent. Its reports show noticeable progress. It is essential that the National Commission be impartial in assessing the conduct of all parties, and effective in its investigations, with findings backed by a thorough legal analysis grounded in international law. The Group of Experts regrets that it has not been possible to establish formal cooperation with the National Commission. 90. The Group of Experts reiterates its concerns with respect to the independence of the Joint Incidents Assessment Team set up by Saudi Arabia to review alleged violations by the coalition. Transparency is a key factor, given the lack of available information about the 15