Yemeni civilian deaths concerns UN chief
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Ban Ki-moon urges 'strict adherence to the principles of proportionality, distinction, and precaution.'
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed concern about civilian casualties resulting from Saudi-led military operations in Yemen.
"The Secretary-General reminds all parties involved in military operations in Yemen of their obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure the protection of civilians," according to a statement issued from Ban's office.
Ban singled out Monday's strike on a refugee camp in the west of Yemen, as well as recent reported attacks against several hospitals in the south of the country, the statement said.
At least 40 people were killed in an airstrike on the Al-Mazriq refugee camp near Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia.
The camp houses displaced families from Yemen's northern Saada province who fled due to earlier fighting between the Houthis and government forces.
The UN chief called for a "strict adherence to the principles of proportionality, distinction, and precaution."
Since last Wednesday, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have pounded positions held by the Shiite Houthi militant group across Yemen.
Riyadh says the strikes are in response to appeals by Yemen's UN-backed President Abd Rabbu Manshour Hadi to "save the [Yemeni] people from the Houthi militias."
Many commentators believe the conflict carries the undertones of a proxy war between Sunni Arab states and Iran, a predominantly Shiite country.
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