YEMEN-SECURITY/ICRC ARRIVAL ICRC president visits Yemen amid ongoing conflict

Record ID: 144703

  • Title: YEMEN-SECURITY/ICRC ARRIVAL ICRC president visits Yemen amid ongoing conflict
  • Date: 8th August 2015
  • Summary: SANAA, YEMEN (AUGUST 8, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) PLANE ARRIVING TO SANAA AIRPORT ICRC PRESIDENT PETER MAURER DESCENDING FROM PLANE / SHAKING HANDS WITH YEMENI OFFICIALS MAURER WALKING WITH YEMENI OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF MAURER SITTING, TALKING WITH YEMENI OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English)
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Yemen
  • Country: Yemen
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA59NES3IQBYCNF85G4DAOCPXKQ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer arrived to the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Saturday (August 8) for a two day visit to highlight the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the country.
    Speaking to reporters upon arrival at Sanaa airport, Maurer said the ICRC's mandate was to "ensure that rules and principles are respected during warfare."
    "Therefore, this is also one of the issues which I would wish to discuss during my visit here in Yemen with all sides and all parties in the conflict," he said.
    In a statement released prior to his arrival, the ICRC said more than 3,800 people have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition air strikes aimed at ousting the Iran-backed Houthis began on March 26.
    Another 1.3 million Yemenis have been displaced as a result of the conflict. Four ICRC volunteers have also been killed since March.
    Maurer said he looked "forward to talk to the people, to the actors, in the country."
    "And I will have the opportunity, certainly, during this visit, at the end of this visit also, to share with you the assessment of what I have seen," he told journalists upon arrival.
    The four month old conflict has caused large scale damage to both civilian infrastructure and medical facilities across the country.
    According to the ICRC, Maurer will visit several different locations in the country and meet with Yemeni officials.
    The ICRC has accused all sides of failing to adhere to the laws of war, resulting in added suffering to the population.
    Militias siding with exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who fled Yemen for Saudi Arabia in March, and army units trained and equipped by Gulf Arab countries have made advances against the Iranian-allied Houthis in recent weeks.
    Saudi forces and the Houthis have been trading fire across the border since the Arab alliance began its operations.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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