Yemen..UN suspends humanitarian flights at Sana'a airport

A UN official announced the suspension of humanitarian flights at Sanaa International Airport, following the injury of an air service crew member as a result of Israeli air strikes targeting the airport.

The Executive Director of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, said in a tweet on her account on the "X" platform on Friday that the program was forced to temporarily suspend the United Nations Humanitarian Air Transport ( UNHAS ) operations at Sana'a International Airport in Yemen.

McCain added that stopping these flights, which "will negatively impact the humanitarian response in the country, at a time when needs are increasing dramatically."

As a result of this incident, @WFP_UNHAS has been forced to temporarily suspend operations out of Sana'a International Airport in Yemen, which will negatively impact the humanitarian response at a time of immense & growing needs.

— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) December 27, 2024

The World Food Programme had previously indicated that a member of the UN Humanitarian Air Service crew, contracted by the programme, had been injured in the Israeli raids that targeted Sana'a airport, and said that he was "currently receiving medical treatment".

The UN programme condemned the air strikes on Sana'a airport, which it said would affect humanitarian air transport operations in Yemen, and the targeting of humanitarian workers, saying: "This is unacceptable. Humanitarian workers are never a target."

On Thursday, Israel launched airstrikes on Sanaa airport while a UN delegation headed by the Director-General of the World Health Organization was preparing to leave the airport, following negotiations with the Houthis to release the kidnapped UN employees.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Israeli attacks, and Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Stephanie Tremblay said in a statement to reporters: “The airstrikes on the Red Sea ports and Sana’a airport pose serious risks to humanitarian operations at a time when millions of people need life-saving assistance.”

"Today's Israeli air strikes on Sana'a International Airport, Red Sea ports and power stations in Yemen are particularly worrying," the statement added.

The Secretary-General stressed that international law, including humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected at all times. He called on all to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, stressing that humanitarian workers must not be targeted and must be respected and protected at all times.