By Nykoel Dinardo
Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen– On September 17, a government-planned air strike in Northern Yemen killed as many as eighty-seven civilians. The air strike was part of the military campaign against the Huthi Rebels, a Shi’ite group fighting the Yemeni government. Many of the missiles fired in the raid fell on a refugee camp in Al Adi, a town on the Northern Border. Most of the casualties reported are women, children, and elderly.

Current reports on the humanitarian situation in Northern Yemen state that at least 150,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in the region.  However, media sources in the area report that warplanes continue to bomb the area daily.  

Sheik Mohammed Hassan, a local tribal leader, told the Associated Press that air strikes on September 16 hit near a school and under a bridge where many civilians had taken shelter.  He went on to say that those that had hidden were crushed to death as a result of the damage from the air raids, and that tractors had to pull the dead from the rubble later.  

Human Rights groups have spoken out against the fighting claiming that the humanitarian effects are taking a high toll on the people of Yemen. Human Rights Watch has demanded that the Yemeni government promptly investigate the air raid to determine who was in charge and responsible for planning the attack.   They demand that the Yemeni government look into the situation explaining that this could be “a horrific attack on civilians.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also voiced their concerns.  In a news report released soon after the air raid, UNICEF expressed their rising concern about the situation, especially the number of children casualties.  

UNICEF Regional Director Sigrid Kaag explained that the high number of civilian casualties, particularly children, is “unacceptable.”  Kaag elaborated, “Children should not be caught in conflict.  Their right to health, protection and safety must be protected at all times.”  UNICEF has demanded that Yemen take action pursuant to international legal norms to ensure that children are kept out of harm’s way.  

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – Tribal Leader: 87 Civilians Killed in Yemen Strike – 17 September 2009

Guardian – Yemen Air Force Accused of Killing Scores of War Refugees – 17 September 2009

UN New Centre – UNICEF Sounds Alarm in Yemen After Deadly Air Raid on Camp for Displaced – 17 September 2009

Voice of America News – Yemeni Air Raid Reported to Kill 87 Civilians – 17 September 2009

Human Rights Watch – Yemen: Investigate Aerial Bomb Attacks – 16 September 2009