UN: More civilians killed in Yemen's ‘absurd, futile’ war

The top UN official in Yemen said airstrikes have killed scores of civilians in the past ten days, in what he called an “absurd war” in which all sides, including the Saudi-led military coalition, show “complete disregard for human life”, Reuters reported.

“This absurd war … has only resulted in the destruction of the country and the incommensurate suffering of its people, who are being punished as part of a futile military campaign by both sides,” UN resident coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said in a statement.

“Also on 26 December, an airstrike on a farm in Attohayta District, Al Hudaydah Governorate resulted in the killing of 14 people from the same family. These new victims are in addition to 84 civilian casualties reported in the last 10 days, including 41 people killed, and 43 people injured by airstrikes in several governorates throughout Yemen,” the statement said.

These incidents prove the complete disregard for human life that all parties, including the Saudi-led Coalition, continue to show in this absurd war that has only resulted in the destruction of the country and the incommensurate suffering of its people, who are being punished as part of a futile military campaign by both sides.

He urged all parties to the conflict to cease using warfare and begin negotiations to bring an end to the war. “I once again remind all parties that it has no military solution. There can only be a political solution.”

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