The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News | OHCHR , UNITED NATIONS
UNOG Bi-Weekly Press Briefing Yemen Conflict Escalation OHCHR - UNOG 18 January 2022
UN rights office warns over violent escalation in Yemen and beyond
Escalating conflict in Yemen has seen an alarming number of air and drone strikes already this year, notably against civilians and non-military targets, the UN rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.
“We are deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of the conflict in Yemen. Overnight, air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition on the capital, Sana’a, are reported to have left at least five civilians dead,” said OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani. “According to preliminary information, those killed were five members of the same family, including two women and a child, when a house was hit in Ma’in district of the city at around 9.25pm.”
The air attacks on Yemen’s capital city followed missile and drone strikes on coalition partner the United Arab Emirates targets on Monday. Claimed by Ansar Allah forces - also known as Houthis – the attacks hit Abu Dhabi’s International airport and a nearby industrial area, reportedly leaving three civilians dead.
Latest data from OHCHR indicates that the level of violence this month could soon surpass that witnessed in December, judging by the number of airstrikes, drones and rockets employed by all sides to the long-running war.
“Figures collected by our office indicate that, so far in January, there were 839 airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition, compared with 1,074 for the whole of December,” explained Ms. Shamdasani, speaking at UN Geneva. “There were some 16 drone strikes, and 12 ballistic missiles and three other projectiles fired by Ansar Allah forces towards Saudi territory in December. To date in January, reports indicate there have been 10 drone strikes towards Saudi Arabia.”
In a statement on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, condemned the violent escalation and stressed that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international humanitarian law.
“The Secretary-General condemns yesterday's attacks on the Abu Dhabi International Airport and in nearby industrial Mussafah area which reportedly caused several civilian casualties and are being claimed by the Houthis,” said Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the UN Information Service at UN Geneva, reading the UN chief’s statement. “Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international humanitarian law. The Secretary-General calls upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any escalation amid heightened tensions in the region.”
Ms. Shamdasani explained that the year’s hostilities began with a large counter-offensive by Government forces against Houthis in Shabwah Governorate to the south-west of oil-rich Marib.
The fighting is now pushing further into Marib and Al Baydah Governorates, the OHCHR spokesperson said, with “dozens of airstrikes and artillery strikes launched by the parties with seemingly little regard for civilians” in recent days.
“On 13 January, airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition injured four civilians and partially damaged the emergency and in-patient departments of a hospital in Al Sawad area, Sanhan district, in Sana'a Governorate,” Ms. Shamdasani continued. “It was reported that the airstrikes targeted a military camp, which is located close to the hospital.”
All parties must ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects, in line with their obligations under international law, the OHCHR spokesperson insisted.
“Parties to the conflict must take all feasible measure to verify that targets are indeed military objectives and suspend an attack if it becomes apparent that the target is not a military objective or that the attack would be disproportionate. Failure to respect the principles of distinction and proportionality could amount to war crimes.”
ends
STORY: Yemen Conflict Escalation – OHCHR, UNOG
TRT: 3 mins 06s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 18 January 2022 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior wide shot, United Nations Palace of Nations, Geneva. UN flag flying.
- Wide shot, press room UN Geneva.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of the conflict in Yemen. Overnight, air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition on the capital, Sana’a, are reported to have left at least five civilians dead. According to preliminary information, those killed were five members of the same family, including two women and a child, when a house was hit in Ma’in district of the city at around 9.25pm.”
- Close-up, TV camera monitor showing podium speaker up close and to rear.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The latest airstrikes followed missile and drone attacks that Alexandra referred to, claimed by Ansar Allah forces - also known as ‘Houthis’ on the United Arab Emirates, which is a coalition partner, on Monday. These attacks on Abu Dhabi’s International airport and a nearby industrial area were reported to have left three civilians dead.”
- Medium-wide shot, large TV screen showing podium speakers and TV camera on tripod with observer to rear.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Alessandra Vellucci, Director, UN Information Service, UN Geneva: “The Secretary-General condemns yesterday's attacks on the Abu Dhabi International Airport and in nearby industrial Mussafah area which reportedly caused several civilian casualties and are being claimed by the Houthis. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited by international humanitarian law. The Secretary-General calls upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint and prevent any escalation amid heightened tensions in the region.”
- Close-up, participants’ faces in profile.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Figures collected by our office indicate that, so far in January, there were 839 airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition, compared with 1,074 for the whole of December.”
- Medium-shot, journalists seated and masked taking notes, a TV screen in the background showing two speakers.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “There were some 16 drone strikes, and 12 ballistic missiles and three other projectiles fired by Ansar Allah forces towards Saudi territory in December. To date in January, reports indicate there have been 10 drone strikes towards Saudi Arabia.”
- Medium shot, participant, masked, looking away.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “On 13 January, airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition injured four civilians and partially damaged the emergency and in-patient departments of a hospital in Al Sawad area, Sanhan district, in Sana'a Governorate. It was reported that the airstrikes targeted a military camp, which is located close to the hospital.”
- Medium shot, participants, masked, looking at laptop and towards podium.
- SOUNDBITE (English): Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Parties to the conflict must take all feasible measure to verify that targets are indeed military objectives and suspend an attack if it becomes apparent that the target is not a military objective or that the attack would be disproportionate. Failure to respect the principles of distinction and proportionality could amount to war crimes.”
- Medium shot, participant taking notes, podium speaker to rear.
- Medium shot, participants taking notes of the briefing.
- Close-up, showing hand and pen taking notes on notepad.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk addressed the 62nd Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
More blistering heatwaves and other weather extremes are increasingly likely across the world now and in coming months linked to strengthening El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk this morning addressed the 62nd Human Rights Council during the urgent debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, in Sudan.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , WHO
Venezuela earthquake aftermath: ‘breakdown of basic services’, disease risks and health workers missing – UN agencies
As search and rescue operations continue in Venezuela thousands of displaced people are struggling to find shelter while infectious diseases threaten to spread, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today addressed the 62 Human Rights Council and made the following remarks on the report on Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday called for action to prevent more deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, as well as for investigations and accountability.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IOM , paho , UNHCR , OHCHR , IFRC
Aid agencies on Friday highlighted massive needs across Venezuela caused by a double earthquake disaster that has killed at least 235 people so far, with search and rescue for people trapped under the rubble still the top priority.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following remarks at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, on the latest report on sexual violence in the Sudanese conflict.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , IOM , IFRC
Ebola in DRC: first month of outbreak sees record number of cases – UN humanitarians
Ebola has been spreading at unprecedented speed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bringing risk and fear into people’s daily lives, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Afghanistan in Crisis: Drought, Malnutrition, and a Worsening Humanitarian Situation
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , OCHA
After another deadly night of clashes in Lebanon, aid agencies issued a new alert for Gaza, where 265 Palestinian children have been killed since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | IAEA
The head of the UN’s atomic energy agency on Thursday welcomed the signing of an initial Iran-US memorandum aimed at ending the war, before proposing “to sit down” with both parties to assist with concrete measures including verification of Iran’s nuclear programme, a critical sticking point.