UN responds to recent Yemen killings in Taiz

Last Friday, a rocket fired by Yemeni Houthi forces or allied troops killed at least 18 civilians and about 40 wounded when it landed in a crowded market in the southwestern city of Taiz on Friday.

Yemen’s Ambassador to the United Nations Khalid al-Yamani, on the same day condemned U.N.’s silence for the crimes Houthis are committing in Taiz.

Al-Yamani said that the silence allows Houthis to ignore international humanitarian laws, and thus the U.N. is participating in the aggression.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Yamani also criticized U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for not naming Houthis explicitly in his statement regarding the attacks on al-Moktaza Market in Taiz on Friday.

U.N. Sec Gen’s statement condemned the attacks of Taiz, which were carried out with heavy weapons, including rockets, mortars and artillery, but didn’t mention the Houthis. It simply said: “Attacks directed against civilians and populated areas, including markets, are strictly prohibited.”

Today, the Human Rights department of the United Nations has condemned recent attacked in a market in Yemen. 'We strongly condemn a series of rocket & mortar attacks against several residential areas & markets in Taizz', it said in a statement on their Twitter account.