In brief
The WHO chief emphasizes the necessity of protecting civilian infrastructure amid ongoing conflict in the region.
The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently shared his harrowing experience of narrowly escaping death during an Israeli air strike at an airport in Sanaa, Yemen. In an interview with BBC Radio 4, he recounted the chaos that erupted when the missile struck, killing at least six people. Dr. Tedros and his fellow UN colleagues were in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained individuals and assess the humanitarian crisis when the incident occurred.With the airport serving as a civilian facility, Dr. Tedros expressed his disbelief that it was targeted, stating, "It doesn't matter whether I'm there or not. Any civilian life is life - my life is not better than another human being." As military operations were underway, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility for targeting military installations related to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who they allege are utilizing the airport for arms smuggling.Witness accounts described a scene of sheer panic, with individuals running for safety and no shelter from the missile attack. In reflecting on the ordeal, Dr. Tedros remarked, “It’s a matter of luck … otherwise if the missile deviated just slightly it could have been on our heads." He emphasized that regardless of his stature, the protection of civilian lives remains paramount.According to the Houthi-run Saba news agency, the strike resulted in multiple casualties, including deaths and injuries among civilians. The Iranian-aligned group condemned the Israeli attacks, labeling them as "barbaric" while vowing to continue retaliating against Israel until hostilities in Gaza cease. The ongoing conflict between Houthi forces and Israel has intensified since the start of the war in October 2023.As hostilities in the region escalate, the message from Dr. Tedros advocates for humanitarian protection and underscores the impact of military actions on civilian populations, reaffirming the need to uphold international standards in warfare.
