UNITED Nations human rights chiefs have called on Washington to end its unilateral coercive sanctions regime which they said was blocking development and punishing innocent people across the world.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said that the US measures were denying people access to basic necessities, including food and water.

“The precautionary principle should be applied by states when unilateral sanctions are taken to avoid any negative humanitarian impact on the whole scope of human rights, including the right to development,” the experts said. “The punishment of innocent civilians must end.