![Displaced Yemenis from al-Hodeidah's Durahemi district receive food aid in the Red Sea port city on August 9th, 2019. [AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2019/12/26/21653-yemen-aid-un-700_496.webp)
The UN has warned of the growing dangers facing humanitarian workers in Yemen following attacks that targeted three international organisations in al-Dhale province at the weekend.
The attacks forced 12 humanitarian organisations to suspend their aid programmes in al-Dhale, which would affect 217,000 local residents, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock said Monday (December 23rd).
In the early hours of Sunday, attacks involving rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) targeted the International Rescue Committee's al-Dhale office and women's centre, wounding a security guard and damaging property.
The IRC expressed "extreme concern" for the safety of its local staff and said it would restart programmes "as soon as it is deemed safe for our staff to return to work".
Unknown assailants also struck the al-Dhale office of Oxfam, one of Britain's largest charities.
Lowcock condemned these attacks and urged a thorough investigation.
"I also remain gravely concerned by the continuation of media campaigns in parts of Yemen that spread rumours and incitement against aid operations," he added.
Protecting aid operations
Yemeni Minister of Local Administration and Head of the High Relief Committee Abdul Raqeeb Fateh said the government will not allow anyone to impede the work of international organisations that are helping secure relief support to the Yemeni people.
"The government has directed the local authority in al-Dhale province to take the necessary measures to resolve these issues and facilitate the work of UN and international organisations," he said.
It asked the local authority to expeditiously submit a report that details the measures that were taken to remove the obstacles impeding the work of aid organisations, he added.
Fateh also condemned the Houthis' (Ansarallah) prevention of aid organisations from providing humanitarian assistance to the people of al-Hodeidah province.
He urged the international community to condemn such practices and to exercise pressure on the Iran-backed Houthis to stop their intervention in humanitarian operations and allow international organisations access to beneficiaries in al-Hodeidah and all areas under Houthi control.
Studies and Economic Media Centre chairman Mustafa Nasr told Al-Mashareq the attacks on three international organisations are an indicator of the dangerous security situation in Yemen and the future of humanitarian operations.
It falls on the government to restore security and stability and look for the perpetrators and bring them to justice, he said.
Many people haven't received any assistance from the international relief. That was the reason behind the bombing. Workers are looting the rights of the poor. We need to monitor them and to hold them to account.
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