In brief
The WHO chief emphasizes the indiscriminate danger of conflict for civilians amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), shared a chilling account of his narrow escape from an Israeli airstrike at an airport in Yemen. The attack occurred while he was wrapping up a visit aimed at discussing the release of UN detainees and evaluating Yemen's humanitarian crisis. In a recent interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dr. Tedros described the chaotic scene as people fled from danger amidst what could easily have been a tragic outcome for him and his colleagues. The airstrike, which reportedly resulted in at least six casualties, targeted what the Israeli military described as Houthi military installations that have been implicated in smuggling Iranian weaponry. “I felt completely exposed during the attack,” Dr. Tedros recounted. He underscored that civilian infrastructure, including an airport, should never be subjected to such violence. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) justified the strike by claiming that the airport served military purposes, allowing Houthi rebels to welcome Iranian officials and facilitate the transport of arms. However, reports from Houthi-controlled media disputed this, stating that the casualties included civilians, stressing the violent and indiscriminate nature of the conflict. Since heightened tensions began following a surprise attack on Israel by Palestinian militants in October 2023, Houthi factions have intensified their assaults on Israel. The group has vowed to keep retaliating until peace returns to Gaza. In response to these hostilities, Israel has conducted retaliatory airstrikes, continuing the cycle of violence. Dr. Tedros, who has held his position at the WHO since 2017 and emerged as a prominent figure during the COVID-19 pandemic, reiterated that all lives matter equally. "My life is not more valuable than that of another human being," he stated, highlighting the pressing need for a humanitarian perspective amidst ongoing military engagement.
