In brief
The WHO director general narrowly avoids disaster during airstrike while assessing humanitarian needs in Yemen
Amidst a chaotic and dangerous scene, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization (WHO) director general, has shared his harrowing experience of narrowly escaping death during an Israeli airstrike at an airport in Yemen. The attack, which claimed the lives of at least six individuals, took place while Dr. Tedros and fellow UN personnel were departing Sanaa on a mission to negotiate the release of UN detainees and evaluate the humanitarian crisis in the region.In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dr. Tedros described the intense chaos of the moment. "It was very chaotic, you know, people were in disarray and running everywhere," he recalled. He emphasized his vulnerability at the time, saying, "There was no shelter, so we were completely exposed." The missile strike, according to him, could have easily resulted in tragedy if it had veered off course.Dr. Tedros noted that his presence at the airport was known prior to the attack, but insisted that the civilian nature of the airport made it an unjust target. "It doesn’t matter whether I’m there or not. Any civilian life is life—my life is not better than another human being," he stated.The Israeli military defended the airstrikes, claiming they were directed at military targets linked to Houthi rebels that allegedly used the airport for smuggling weapons. They argued that Houthi forces have frequently exploited civilian infrastructure for military purposes, prompting such strikes.In stark contrast, the Houthi-run Saba news agency reported that three individuals were killed in the airport strike, claiming a total of 30 injuries, while other attacks in the vicinity also resulted in additional fatalities. As tensions between Israel and Houthi rebels continue to escalate with retaliatory strikes, the Houthi group has vowed to persist with attacks until hostilities in Gaza cease.The conflict ignited in October 2023 continues to see cyclical violence as both sides engage in military exchanges, underscoring the deeply rooted and ongoing struggles in the region.
