Oxfam condemns latest attack on MSF hospital in Yemen

Oxfam and 5 other aid agencies have condemned a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on a hospital supported by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Abs, in Hajja governorate in Yemen. Oxfam, Care, Handicap International, Mercy Corps, Intersos and Save the Children called for an independent investigation into Monday's attack, the fourth on an MSF-supported facility in Yemen in less than a year that comes just two days after 10 children were killed and 28 injured in airstrike on a school, in the Saada Governorate.

Sajjad Mohammad Sajid, Oxfam Yemen Country Director, said: “This was a horrific attack killing sick and injured people and the medical staff desperately trying to help them.  The world cannot continue to turn a blind eye as the most vulnerable suffer in this terrible conflict. We urge all parties to the conflict to reach a political solution to stop the violence and put an end to the bloodshed.“ 

Edward Santiago, Save the Children’s Yemen Country Director, said: “The Saudi Arabia-led Coalition claims to have taken measures to prevent and end grave violations against children but they are clearly not working if children continue to be killed and injured and schools and hospitals attacked.”

As violence resumed last week following the failure of the recent peace talks in Kuwait, civilians continue to be deliberately put at the centre of the conflict. The escalation of attacks and the closure of Yemen’s main airport are putting millions of people at risk.

Air strikes were identified as responsible for 60 percent of the 785 children killed and 1,168 wounded in Yemen last year. In recent weeks civilian casualties have continued to mount with the UN recording 272 deaths and 543 injuries in the four months from April to August this year. 

More than 2.8 million people have fled their homes because of the daily bombardments and shelling since the beginning of the conflict.

The UN and human rights organisations report widespread allegations of breaches of the laws of war in Yemen by all parties to the conflict.