WHO chief says he’s safe after Israeli bombardment of Yemen’s Sanaa airport
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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was about to board a flight at Sanaa airport when the facility came under Israeli bombardment.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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GENEVA – The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO), who was at the Sanaa airport in Yemen amid an Israeli bombardment on Dec 26, said there was damage to infrastructure but he remained safe.
“One of our plane’s crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on social media platform X.
Other UN staff were also safe but their departure was delayed until repairs could be made, he added.
Dr Tedros was in Yemen as part of a mission to seek the release of detained UN staff and assess the health and humanitarian situations in the war-torn country.
He said the mission “concluded today” and that “we continue to call for the detainees’ immediate release”.
While about to board their flight, he said “the airport came under aerial bombardment”.
“The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge – just a few metres from where we were – and the runway were damaged.”
The Israeli air strikes
The rebel-held capital’s airport was struck by “more than six” attacks, with raids also targeting the adjacent Al-Dailami airbase, a witness said. AFP
