December 28th 2024.
The United Nations was shaken by the news of Israeli airstrikes hitting Yemen's main airport on Thursday. The airport was filled with hundreds of passengers, including a U.N. delegation that was preparing to leave. Julien Harneis, the U.N.'s top humanitarian official in Yemen, shared the harrowing experience with reporters, highlighting the terrifying impact of the airstrikes on the airport control tower and a Yemenia Airways plane that was taxiing in for landing.
Harneis, who was accompanied by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed relief that the plane was able to land safely despite the chaos caused by the airstrikes. He also noted that the U.N. team had no prior warning of the imminent danger, and that Sanaa had not experienced airstrikes during daylight hours in quite some time.
The U.N. confirmed that three people were killed and many others were injured, including a crew member from the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service who was about to fly the U.N. delegation out of Sanaa. Harneis reported that the crew member had suffered a serious leg injury and lost a lot of blood. The delegation was forced to wait in an armored car for 40 minutes while security officials assessed the situation and the injured crew member received medical attention.
The injured crew member was eventually taken to a hospital in Sanaa, where he underwent a four-hour surgery. The rest of the delegation spent the night in a U.N. compound before being able to leave for Jordan the next day. Despite the absence of an operating control tower, the U.N. plane was able to safely depart for Jordan, where the injured crew member was then transferred to a hospital in Amman.
The situation in Yemen has been dire for many years, with the country being torn apart by a 10-year civil war between Houthi rebels and government forces. The recent escalation in violence began when Israel started attacking Gaza in response to attacks by Hamas fighters in 2023. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have also been targeting Israel and disrupting maritime routes in the Red Sea.
The Israeli army stated that they were not aware of the presence of the U.N. delegation and WHO chief at the Sanaa airport during the airstrikes. They defended their actions by claiming that the airport is used by the Houthis and Iran. However, Harneis pointed out that the airport is primarily used for civilian purposes, including the transportation of humanitarian workers and one civilian flight to and from Amman.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen has been worsening, with an estimated 18 million people needing assistance this year and a projected increase to 19 million next year. The recent airstrikes on the Sanaa airport and the port of Hodeida have only added to the country's struggles. Harneis emphasized that the port of Hodeida is crucial for imports, with 80% of the country's food and 90% of medical supplies entering through there.
In addition to discussing the humanitarian crisis, the U.N. delegation was also in Yemen to seek the release of around 50 people who have been detained since June by the Houthis. Harneis joined Tedros in meetings with Houthi leaders and received commitments for the detainees' possible release and better conditions for their imprisonment. The U.N. remains committed to helping the people of Yemen and finding solutions to the ongoing conflict.
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