At least 1,000 people killed in Yemen chaos

Middle East, News April 10, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

A Yemeni army spokesperson says at least 1,000 people, including 200 children, have been killed in Saudi air attacks against its southern neighbor over the past two weeks.

Speaking at a news conference in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a on Thursday, Colonel Sharaf Luqman said the dead included 40 women, some of whom pregnant, and 20 elderly people.

The Saudi bombings also left 15,000 Yemeni people injured, Luqman said, adding that he could not yet provide precise figures about the Saudi war.

The Saudi attack on Yemen has also forced a large number of people to flee their homes.

The UN special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons has warned the international community to be prepared for a massive displacement and humanitarian crisis in Yemen as civilians flee the bombings and clashes.

“Unless rapidly resolved, the crisis could lead to mass displacement in the wake of heavy and ongoing fighting and airstrikes,” Chaloka Beyani said on Wednesday, adding, “The picture on the ground is extremely bleak and humanitarian responses must be stepped up as a matter of urgency.”

The Red Cross’s Marie Claire Feghali said that the humanitarian situation is worsening every day in Yemen and it as “very difficult” with“naval, air and ground routes cut off.”

Many injured do not have the infrastructure to reach local hospitals, Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) said.

Marie-Elisabeth Ingres, an MSF official, said that hospitals in Aden had “not received large numbers of casualties over the past few days … due to the difficulties faced in trying to reach a hospital.”

As chaos deepens in #Yemen, UN expert warns of ‘worst case scenario’ #displacement http://t.co/aHDafP6JdV pic.twitter.com/O7aVDT8dch

— UN News Centre (@UN_News_Centre) April 8, 2015

In March, five Gulf States and Egypt launched airstrikes targeting Shiite Houthi rebels, who had seized the Yemeni capital and large territories in the west of the country. Jordan, Sudan, Morocco and Pakistan also expressed their willingness to join in the military operation.

Saudi Arabia took full control of Yemen’s airfields and seaports, allegedly to prevent arms coming in from abroad and intensive airstrikes targeted Houthi stronghold of Saada in the north and the port city of Aden, scene of a running battle.

RT/XLS/KA/SS