HUDAYDAH 28 February 2021 — UNMHA condemns in the strongest possible terms an attack that reportedly hit a residential home last night in Al Hawak, one of the most militarily tense areas of the Hudaydah governorate.

According to initial reports, the attack resulted in the deaths of five civilians, including a woman and child, and wounding of three civilians.

“These devastating and ongoing civilian casualties are yet another violation of International Humanitarian Law and the terms of the Hudaydah Agreement and ceasefire,” UNMHA Head of Mission and Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) Chair Lieutenant General (Ret) Abhijit Guha said.

“I send my deepest condolences to the victims’ families and urge the parties to investigate the incident further," he added.

Lt. Gen. Guha appealed to both parties to prevent inflicting further misery on an already suffering population. He also renewed a call for freedom of movement that would enable UNMHA military monitors to access sites of recent and significant military hostilities.

“This will allow UNMHA to better assess the conflict and in turn enable further support to the parties to the Hudaydah Agreement in implementing the terms of the ceasefire.” Al Hawak has witnessed increasingly intense exchange of fire over recent months.