United Nations Secretary-General Condemns Hajjah Massacre

March 15 / Yamanyoon

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, condemned the raids waged by the Saudi American aggression on Khamees local market in Mstba district on the 15th of March, 2016, Hajjah governorate. The heinous massacre led to the death of 107 civilians, and is described as to be the bloodiest by Ban Ki-moon.

The Secretary-General of the International Organization official said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Stephane Dogrec, “That incident was the bloodiest, where dozens of civilians, including women and children, had been killed”

While expressing his sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured, he stressed that “attacks targeting civilians and civilian entities, including the densely populated markets are strongly forbidden.”

Ban Ki-moon called on all parties to “fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights, including the basic rules of distinction and proportionality, which strictly forbids attacks against civilians and civilian installations, including the densely populated markets.”

The statement stressed that “any deliberate attack against civilians or civilian targets, constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and it is important to carry out prompt, effective, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of serious violations.”

The Secretary-General of the United Nations urged to cease all military activities and begin to resolve all differences and outstanding issues in a new round of peace negotiations facilitated by his special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Wald Al-Sheikh Ahmed.