A/HRC/42/CRP.1 596. In addition to the 2 August 2018 shelling case against the al-Hudaydah city fishing market (see above section on shelling by undetermined perpetrators), the Group of Experts investigated the 15 September 2018 case near al-Khawkhah district. 15 September 2018 - West Coast, near al-Khawkhah district. 597. On 15 September 2018, a coalition warship launched shells on a fishing boat carrying 19 fishermen from al-Qadha area of al-Khawkhah district in al-Hudaydah governorate. The fishermen were targeted while they were on a fishing trip in an area near the sea border between Eritrea and Yemen. Eighteen fishermen were killed. The only survivor was rescued by another fishing boat two days later, and then reached the coast of al-Khawkhah where he received medical treatment. 921. 598. The exact circumstances of the killing of the fishermen are not clear, as the only survivor of the incident has disappeared. The Group of Experts has received information that UAE officials attempted to ensure that the only witness, as well as sources and relatives of the killed fishermen, remain silent about the incident. Some were allegedly paid money. 599. The coalition initially blamed the Houthis for the incident and denied any participation in the attack, according to a Reuters press report. 922 However, the JIAT issued a report on the incident months later, in which it acknowledged that the coalition had carried out the attack. It argued that the attack happened when a protection ship that was escorting a convoy of Saudi merchant ships allegedly spotted a boat that was getting close to the convoy. The JIAT stated that the coalition warned the fishing boat via loudspeakers and warning shots, before the coalition ship fired at the boat. The JIAT added that after the completion of the escort mission, the coalition warship went back to the incident location and carried out a search and rescue operation. No survivors were found. 923 Arrest, Detention and Disappearance of Fishermen 600. The Group of Experts followed up on the reports of arrest and detention of fishermen in the context of naval operations around al-Hudaydah Governorate, as described in last year’s report. While the Group of Experts did not receive reports on new arrests and detentions, it has reasonable grounds to believe that Yemeni fishermen continue to be held incommunicado in detention facilities in Saudi Arabia. At least eight of them, held for more than two years, remain missing.924 Impact of treatment of the fishing community on women and children 601. The death and disappearance of fishermen has had a severe impact on their households. A widow of a fisherman explained to the Group of Experts her and her family’s situation at the moment, which illustrates the challenges that wives and children among the fishing community currently face. She stated: “My husband was a fisherman who disappeared. I was told that he was killed by the Apache helicopter when he was in the sea. I have two boys and four girls. I live now in al-Hudaydah city. Two of my girls and one boy are with me now. My little one has a brain injury and he needs constant follow up and treatment. I took him to a doctor once, and the doctor said he needs many medications which I cannot afford. The other two girls are out of school as we don’t have any income to pay for their education. They need daily spending and clothes, which I cannot afford. I sent my other two girls, aged 19 and 16, to a friend in Sana’a. She sends them to school and provides for them. I check on them every now and then by phone since I cannot go to visit them due to 921 Confidential Sources on File. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/eighteen-fishermen-killed-off-yemens-red-seacoast-idUSKCN1LY2YV. 923 https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1875234. 924 Confidential Sources on File. 922 144