UNICEF: 39 Humanitarian Centers in Yemen Have Been Attacked So Far

The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, states that the hospital recently targeted in Yemen is the thirty-ninth humanitarian center to be attacked. The Arab coalition has denied the attack on the hospital. The UN Secretary-General has called for a transparent investigation into the matter. UNICEF reported on October 27 that the attack on the hospital in the city of Saada is the thirty-ninth such attack since March, when the Saudi-led coalition began its assaults in Yemen. The 'Haydin' hospital in Saada is managed by 'Doctors Without Borders,' and this international group stated on its Twitter account that the humanitarian center was targeted by several airstrikes on Monday. The attacks have destroyed part of the hospital, but rescuers managed to get themselves and those inside to safety. Nevertheless, Reuters quoted a senior representative of 'Doctors Without Borders' in Yemen stating that this attack, even if it was a mistake, constitutes a war crime. The Saudi-led coalition, as in most previous cases, has denied that its military forces carried out the attack. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, has urged all parties involved in Yemen to immediately end the conflict and find a political solution to the crisis in that country. He also called for a transparent and thorough investigation into the attack on the 'Doctors Without Borders' humanitarian center. UNICEF stated that under the current conditions, 'children in Yemen are facing a greater risk of death due to a lack of humanitarian and medical assistance than from bombs and bullets.' Humanitarian centers of 'Doctors Without Borders' in various countries have been targeted. Prior to the attack in Yemen, a U.S. military airstrike on one of the group's centers in Kunduz resulted in the deaths of 22 people. The U.S. claims it is compensating the victims of that attack, and the President of that country has personally apologized for it. 'Doctors Without Borders' is nonetheless calling for independent investigations into the attack in Kunduz. The senior representative of this organization in Yemen stated regarding the attack in Saada that they had provided accurate local information about their presence to the coalition two weeks prior and that there was no reason for them to be targeted. In this context, the UN will 'soon announce the time and place of peace negotiations in Yemen.'