Red Cross Condemns Attack on its Office in Yemen’s Aden, Suspends Work

Local Editor

The International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] strongly condemned an attack which has taken place on its offices in the city of Aden in Yemen, as it said on its website on Tuesday.

ICRC said that it had temporarily suspended its activities in the city of Aden in Yemen after its office was raided by unidentified gunmen a day earlier on Monday.

 

 "Unidentified gunmen stormed the building on Monday and held staff at gunpoint", it said
 
"Cars, cash and equipment were subsequently stolen", it further said
 
"As a result, fourteen international staff members have been relocated", the ICRC said.
 
The ICRC’s head of sub-delegation in the city, Samer Jarjouhi, said that, "This is not the first time that we have had a security incident in Aden", adding that, "There have been at least ten such incidents recently."

"This is not acceptable and we have relocated staff until the situation improves", he further said. 

It is not clear who the gunmen were but the security situation in Aden has deteriorated in recent months.

The ICRC said that it will remain in contact with the authorities in the city to discuss safety considerations.

Since the US-led Saudi aggression began in March, the ICRC said that it has stepped up its activities in Yemen, and has been providing vital humanitarian support to around one million people in Aden.

Moreover, the ICRC called on parties on the ground to respect the ICRC’s strictly neutral and impartial work and to not obstruct or prevent it from helping people in need.

The ICRC has been present in Aden since 2010 and in Yemen since 1962. The ICRC said that its activities, including the provision of food, water and medical care, continue throughout the country.
 
This is while an ongoing military aggression by Saudi Arabia against Yemen continues to bomb civilians and infrastructure while they also airdrop arms and ammunition to militants.

A Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States has been carrying out a military aggression on Yemen by launching airstrikes against the country since March 26. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the United Nations [UN].