New York - Sana'a: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations expressed deep concern about the impact of ongoing airstrikes on civilians and the infrastructure they rely on in Yemen, including health facilities, and called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law.
This was stated by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric at his press conference in New York, where he said that the organization's humanitarian partners are intensifying their emergency support to meet the growing needs related to airstrikes on the city of Hodeidah, which have exceeded 20 airstrikes since Monday. According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received Thursday morning,
The United Nations also expressed deep concern about the continued missile and drone attacks by the Houthis against Israel and in the Red Sea, and called on the group to immediately cease these attacks.
Mr. Dujarric added that the United Nations continues to receive updates on the devastating effects of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in recent days, and has verified the killing of five children in Sana'a on Sunday. He also noted that airstrikes last week damaged a hospital in Al Bayda Governorate, where humanitarian partners were running an emergency obstetric and neonatal care program. He added, "The damage to the hospital's solar panels means they can no longer operate 24 hours a day." Mr. Dujarric emphasized that the United Nations and its partners continue to be present and provide services wherever they can, based on available funding. He said that funding for this year's Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan is only 8% funded, with less than $205 million of the nearly $2.5 billion required. He said, "We cannot do more with less. The Yemeni people are trapped in a horrific cycle of violence and a humanitarian crisis. While funding is no substitute for the political solution that the Yemeni people so desperately deserve, it will at least help communities survive and stabilize."