UN: The Deadliest Month of All Was April, 474 Killed and Injured in Yemen

YemenExtra

M.A.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights considered April as the deadliest month for civilians in Yemen this year, with the number of casualties rising.

“More than 236 civilians were killed and more than 238 wounded in April – 474 people were killed and wounded – double the number of injuries recorded in March this year,” High Commissioner Rafina Shamdasani said in a press release.

“During the first week of May, heavy casualties continued with the killing of 63 civilians and documented by the United Nations Office for Human Rights in Yemen, including six dead and 57 wounded.”

“The recent attacks on sites in densely populated areas, including air strikes on the presidential office in Sana’a, raise doubts about respect for the principles of precaution, discrimination and proportionality under international humanitarian law,” she said.

According to the statement, the information collected by the United Nations Office for Human Rights indicates that the first raid hit the presidential office directly, located in a densely populated area and hit the building itself again after seven minutes of the first strike, leading to more casualties from paramedics who rushed to provide assistance.

Moreover, the statement pointed to the air strike carried out by the coalition on a fuel station in the province of Hajjah, which led to the death and injury of dozens of innocent citizens.

“Between March 26, 2015 and May 10, 2018, our office documented the deaths of 16,432 civilians, including 6,500 and 385 dead and 10, 47 wounded, as a result of air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition.”