UN Official Warns of Humanitarian Consequences for Any Disruption to Civilian Infrastructure in Yemen
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
Julien Harneis, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, has warned that any disruption to Sana’a International Airport could cripple humanitarian operations, especially since it is the entry and exit point for all international humanitarian aid workers operating in the north of the country.
Speaking via video link at a daily press briefing at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, Harneis said that the airport is where thousands of Yemenis who are unable to access adequate advanced healthcare in the country depart for other countries such as Jordan and Egypt. “Therefore, it is a very vital humanitarian site,” he added.
The UN official spoke about the airstrikes that targeted the airport on Thursday when he was present there with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Harneis said: “The airstrikes took place about 300 meters from where Dr. Tedros and I were. There was an airstrike about 300 meters to the south of us, and another about 300 meters to the north of us.”
He added: “The most frightening thing about that airstrike was not the impact on us, but that the airstrikes occurred while a Yemeni Airways civilian plane carrying hundreds of Yemenis was about to land. That plane was landing and moving at the time the air traffic control tower was destroyed. Fortunately, that plane was able to land safely, and passengers were able to disembark. But it could have been much worse.”
Disturbing Strikes
The humanitarian coordinator for Yemen warned that, given the possibility of further violence between the Houthis in the north of the country and Israel, there could be additional impact on civilian infrastructure, ports, airports, and roads, which could lead to immense suffering for the Yemeni people.
He warned that the airstrikes on the port of Hodeidah are “particularly worrying.”
He explained that Yemen imports nearly 80 % of its food supplies, noting that if the port is disrupted, it means that the entire population of northern Yemen, which constitutes between 65 and 70% of the population, will be in greater humanitarian need.
He called on the parties to abide by international humanitarian law during these exchanges.
He noted that there are 18 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and that this represents almost half of the population.
He expected this number to rise to 19 million due to the deteriorating economy, adding, “This means that Yemen has the second highest rate of child malnutrition in the world. This also means that Yemen has the second highest rate of people unable to access health services. And it also has the third highest rate of people suffering from food insecurity in the world.”
