United Nations condemns Yemen raid

The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned “in the strongest terms” an attack on an army camp in southern Yemen that killed 185 soldiers. In a statement published after talks on Yemen at the council, the 15 member states “reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism.” Calling terrorism “one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” they said that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable.” The council also reminded concerned states that “they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.” Al Qaeda earlier claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack at an army camp in Kud, a town in southern Abyan province. The UN envoy to Yemen warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in the country, where 6.8 million people have been left without enough food during months of political turmoil that has allowed Al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula to gain ground. UN envoy Jamal Benomar said some 3 million people are in need of immediate assistance and he urged international donors to help the Arab world’s poorest country at this time of need. The UN humanitarian appeal for $446 million for Yemen is only 15 per cent funded, he said. “There is a growing humanitarian crisis in the country,” Benomar told reporters after briefing the UNSC. He said Yemen has the second highest rate of chronic child malnutrition in the world and warned that 500,000 children are likely to die from malnutrition or suffer life-long consequences this year if adequate support isn’t provided. Meanwhile, Yemeni army killed seven suspected militants in an artillery strike on Zinjibar. “The army fired artillery shells at Al-Qaeda positions in Zinjibar” late on Wednesday night, an army official said. A local official in the nearby town of Jaar meanwhile said that “the bodies of seven Qaeda fighters” were transferred to the militant stronghold for burial. Benomar said the humanitarian crisis and Qaeda’s increasing support are among the major challenges that government led by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi face. He was sworn in on Feb.25 to replace longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.