NEW YORK, Dec 31 — The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday strongly condemned the deadly attack on Aden airport, which reportedly has killed at least 26 people and injured more than 50, reported Xinhua news agency.
In a statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his condemnation of the “deplorable attack”. In a separate statement, the UN special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths strongly condemned the attack, and “the killing and injury of many innocent civilians.”
Both senior officials offered their sincere condolences and solidarity to all who lost loved ones.
Guterres reiterated the steadfast commitment of the United Nations to support efforts to resume a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process to reach an inclusive, negotiated settlement to the conflict.
“I wish the cabinet strength in facing the difficult tasks ahead,” Griffiths’ statement added. “This unacceptable act of violence is a tragic reminder of the importance of bringing Yemen urgently back on the path towards peace.”
Yemen has been riven by conflict since 2015, when fighting erupted between a Saudi-backed coalition supporting the internationally-recognised government and the Houthi rebel group known formally as Ansar Allah.
Figures released by the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, in early December, suggest that more than 230,000 Yemenis have died due to the war, the majority – some 131,000 – through indirect causes such as lack of food, health services and infrastructure.
More than 3,000 children have been killed, and 1,500 civilian casualties have been reported in the first nine months of this year.
Source: BERNAMA