These latest civilian casualties are the most recent in what the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has called “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.” A minimum of 7,500 other civilians have died since September 2019 with monitoring groups predicting much higher tolls. Additionally, between April 2015 and October 2018, it is estimated that approximately 85,000 children died of severe acute malnutrition in Yemen, and, currently, almost 10 million people are considered “one step away from famine.” Over 3.65 million people have been displaced from their homes due to the conflict, 20 million people do not have proper health care accessible, and 24 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The airstrike Saturday was thought to be in response to a group of Houthi rebels who shot down a Saudi plane Friday in the same location. The coalition that carried out the airstrike is led by Saudi Arabia, which became involved in the war in Yemen in 2015.
The spokesperson for the coalition, Col. Turki al-Maliki, said that an investigation will be carried out surrounding the airstrike and its, “possible collateral damage to civilians.” UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, spoke on the airstrikes, saying, “So many people are being killed in Yemen; it’s a tragedy, and it’s unjustifiable. Under international humanitarian law, parties which resort to force are obligated to protect civilians. Five years into this conflict, and belligerents are still failing to uphold this responsibility. It’s shocking.”
To know more, please read:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423
Author: Noelle Musolino; Editor: Vito Quaglia
