UN Chief Slams Killing of Civilians in Yemen
Ban, in a statement released on Wednesday, asked "all parties
to the conflict to immediately cease all hostilities and for the Yemeni parties
to return to direct talks facilitated by his special envoy for Yemen.”
Riyadh has dramatically stepped up its air raids in Yemen,
especially Sana'a, ever since peace talks in Kuwait between representatives of
the Saudi-backed former government and Houthis were suspended on August 6.
The UN chief reminded all parties "of the utmost necessity
to protect civilians and to respect their obligations under international
humanitarian law.”
Ban further condemned the loss of at least nine civilian
lives in a recent Saudi aerial attack against the Nihm district east of the
Yemeni capital, Sana’a, but he did not name the kingdom in his criticism. Press
TV reported.
"Civilians, including children, are paying the heaviest
price in the ongoing conflict, as civilian infrastructure, such as schools and
hospitals, continue to be hit,” he said.
The attack came less than 48 hours after Medical aid group
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Saudi airstrikes on a school in the northern
province of Sa’ada had killed 10 children.
The UN chief has already taken flak for dropping Saudi
Arabia from a list of children's rights violators after coming under
"undue pressure."
On Wednesday, the Ansarullah spokesman held Saudi Arabia
responsible for the stalemate and rising deaths in Yemen, saying the Houthi
movement had given a series of concessions but the opposite side was sticking
to its uncompromising ways.
Mohammed Abdulsalam, in a post published on his Twitter
account, said Ansarullah had decided to change its tactics and "firmly
stand by the Yemeni nation."
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia kept on attacking new positions
across Yemen. Yemeni reports said warplanes had carried out nearly 50
airstrikes against various neighborhoods across the Sa’ada province in a span
of 24 hours.
At least three people lost their lives and eight others
sustained injuries on Wednesday evening when a Saudi jet struck a residential
building in Majz district.
Saudi warplanes also launched two airstrikes against the
Kahlan military base, and another against non-operational Sana’a International
Airport.
Furthermore, Saudi aircraft struck Sahar and Ḥaydan
districts in Sa’ada Province.
Yemen has been under Saudi military strikes since late March
2015 in a bid to reinstate Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who has stepped down as
Yemen’s president but is now seeking to grab power by force.
According to UN, the conflict in Yemen has damaged or
demolished more than 70 health centers, including three MSF facilities.
