Yemen: Ban condemns reported coalition airstrike on rural hospital that leaves 11 dead
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 16 August 2016 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Yemen: Ban condemns reported coalition airstrike on rural hospital that leaves 11 dead, 16 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57b859f340e.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
16 August 2016 - Reiterating his call on all warring parties in Yemen to immediately implement the cessation of hostilities, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the reported coalition airstrike yesterday on a hospital in the rural town of Hajjah that killed 11 people.
The media has reported that more than 19 people were also wounded when an airstrike hit a hospital supported by the Paris-based Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, in the rebel-held town.
According to a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson, the Secretary-General notes that the parties to the Yemeni conflict have damaged or destroyed over 70 health centres to date, including three other MSF-supported facilities, and he “is deeply disturbed” by the intensification of airstrikes and continuing ground fighting and shelling, especially in populated areas.
The UN chief also stressed that the shrinking humanitarian space and limited access to essential services for Yemenis, a situation exacerbated by the return to full-scale hostilities, is a matter of ever greater concern, the statement said.
The statement further notes that hospitals and medical personnel are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law and any attack directed against them, or against any civilian persons or infrastructure, is a serious violation of international humanitarian law. All such attacks should be investigated through prompt, effective, independent and impartial.
