Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy is again urging a temporary cut off of support for the Saudi Arabia-led coalition that’s waging war in Yemen.
The United Nations describes the war in Yemen as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, saying it’s left more than 22 million people in need of aid and protection.
Speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday, Murphy advocated for an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill, which would withhold support until the U.S. can verify the coalition air campaign is not violating international law.
Murphy's measure followed a coalition bombing this month that killed 44 children and 10 adults on a school bus.
"That school bus was carrying dozens of children. Dozens of children that are now dead because of a 500-pound bomb made in the United States and sold to the coalition," Murphy said.
But Republicans objected to the amendment, which means it will not be considered as part of the defense bill.
According to the United Nations, between March and August of this year, there have been more than 17,000 civilian casualties in Yemen, including more than 6,000 dead.
The majority of these casualties were as a result of air strikes carried out by the Saudi-led Coalition, it said in a statement.
