11th May, 2015
Airstrikes in Yemen contravene international law, according to a senior UN official.
In a statement released on the weekend, Johannes van der Klaauw – the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said he was deeply concerned about the impact of airstrikes on Friday on the city of Saada, noting that scores of civilians were reportedly killed and thousands were forced to flee their homes after the Saudi Arabian-led coalition "declared the entire governorate a military target".
"Many civilians are effectively trapped in Sa’ada as they are unable to access transport because of the fuel shortage," he said. "The targeting of an entire governorate will put countless civilians at risk. The indiscriminate bombing of populated areas, with or without prior warning, is in contravention of international humanitarian law."
Mr van der Klaauw said that since mid-March more than 1,400 people have been killed and close to 6,000 people injured. About half , he said, have been civilians.
Mr van der Klaauw called on all parties in the conflict to "observe their duty" to protect civilians and for them to avoid locating military personnel and assets in densely populated areas as well as using populated areas as launching grounds for attacks.
– DAVID ADAMS
