Mohammed al-Basha, spokesman for Yemen embassy in the United States told reporters late on Wednesday that the Yemeni government intends to offer all civilian casualties’ families a monetary compensation in keeping with tribal tradition: blood money.
While so far reports have only confirmed that three civilians were killed in Sunday-Monday large scale military operation against al-Qaeda position in central and southern Yemen, several organizations, among which the Bureau of Investigative Journalism have warned the death toll could well swell up as dust will settle and witnesses come forward to tell their tale.
It is important to note that unlike previous instances, the Yemeni government has been rather forthcoming with its admission to civilian casualties, a move which many have hailed as encouraging, especially since activists and rights organizations have often called on Sana’a central government to be more transparent and open.
Speaking to reporters al-Basah noted, “Yes, [the] Yemeni government did and will compensate the families of civilian casualties as a result of [counter-terrorist] operations.”
A local media has alleged that the government will pay a total sum of $55,000 to the victims’ families as well as offer firearms as compensation for their loss. It is important to note that the Yemen Post was unable to independently verify such information. That being said, since the US has in the past (mainly in Pakistan and Afghanistan) dedicated large sums of money to the payment of blood money, also known as solatia, in country where such tribal customs are carried as to preserve social cohesion and respect traditions, it is likely families will be duly and handsomely paid to reflect the sheer magnitude of their loss.
While of course life cannot be measured in pecuniary terms, such compensations will offer some modicum of comfort for the grieving families and ensure that those left behind are left with the means to move on.