UN chief condemns Yemen escalation as airstrikes hit Sana’a airport, critical infrastructure – World Issues

These strikes targeted Sana’a International Airport, Red Sea ports, and power stations, and a member of the UN Humanitarian Air Crew at the airport was also injured.

A high-level UN delegation, led by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was at the airport when the strikes took place, following discussions on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the release of detained UN staff.

“Today’s airstrikes follow almost a year of intense activities by the Houthis in the Red Sea and the region that threaten civilians, regional stability and freedom of navigation,” said Stéphanie Tremblay, UN spokeswoman, in a statement.

He added that Secretary-General António Guterres is still very concerned about the risk of escalation and has called on all parties to stop making war and exercise restraint.

“He also warns that the airstrikes on the Red Sea ports and the Sana’a airport pose a serious threat to humanitarian operations at a time when millions of people need life-saving assistance,” Ms. Tremblay said.

Respect international law

Mr. Guterres reiterated that international law, including humanitarian law as it applies, must be respected at all times, and urged everyone to respect and protect civilians and human infrastructure.

“Humanitarian workers must not be targeted and must be respected and protected at all times,” the statement read.

The ongoing escalation in the region also continues to undermine the mediation efforts led by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Hans Grundberg to reach a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen, it added.

The first account of the head of the WHO

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was at Sana’a airport during the strikes, explained what happened on social media.

“When we were about to board our flight from Sana’a…the airport was bombed,” he wrote.

The strikes damaged the air traffic control tower and the lounge, just a few meters from where Tedros and his team were stationed.

“We will have to wait until the damage to the airport is repaired before we leave. My UN and WHO colleagues and I are safe,” he said, adding his condolences to the families who lost their relatives in this incident.