United Nations – Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, has called for “a prompt and impartial investigation” into the Saturday airstrike on a market in Yemen that killed at least 32 civilians.
He on Monday in New York ,strongly condemned the apparent airstrike” on Khaleq market in Nehm district in northeastern Sanaa.
Ban described the death toll among the highest from a single bombing since September 2015.
The bombardment reportedly carried out by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, also left at least 41 others injured. Other reports put the death toll around 45.
The secretary-general expressed concerned about the continuing intense airstrikes and ground fighting in Yemen in spite his repeated calls for a cessation of hostilities.
Ban expressed his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims.
The secretary-general reminded all parties to the conflict of the utmost necessity to fully respect their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects, including populated markets.
“Such attacks are considered serious violations of international humanitarian law.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560”]
Ban reiterated his call on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to engage in good faith with his special envoy for Yemen in order to agree on a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible and to convene a new round of peace talks.
Yemen has been mired in an all-out civil war since September 2014, when the Shiite Houthi group, backed by forces loyal to the former president, invaded Sanaa and drove President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have advanced to within 50 km from Sanaa earlier this month, after recapturing military posts in Nehm district and its mountains overlooking the rebel-held capital from the northeast.
The advance, backed by Saudi-led warplanes, came very slowly because of the rebel-planted minefields in the roads ahead toward Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition started daily air bombings on the Shiite Houthi rebels and their allied forces since March 2015, vowing to drive out the rebels and retrieve the capital.
More than 6,000 people have been killed in ground battles and airstrikes, half of them civilians. (dpa/NAN)