The UN has condemned an airstrike on a detention centre in northern Yemen as the death toll rose to more than 80.

The airstrike in the rebel-held Sa’ada province on Friday morning followed a Houthi drone attack on the United Arab Emirates on Monday that killed three people. It marks an intensification of violence in the seven-year civil war between the government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, and the Iranian-backed rebels.

Hundreds of people were injured in the attack on the detention centre. Médecins Sans Frontières reported that al-Gumhourriyeh hospital in Sa’ada had taken in about 200 wounded patients was unable to provide care for any more.

MSF also said 82 deaths had been confirmed, citing figures from the health ministry in Sana’a. At least 266 people had been injured, it said.

The Saudi-led coalition denied reports that it had bombed the prison in a statement on Saturday morning.

“The coalition will inform the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the facts and details,” the official Saudi news agency said, citing a coalition spokesman. The coalition also said the prison had not been on a no-targeting list agreed with the UN and and had not been reported by the Red Cross.

The UN secretary general, António Guterres, said in response to Friday’s attacks that the “escalation needs to stop”. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, he said the airstrikes, which included other parts of the country, had resulted in child casualties, and he reminded all parties that “attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, are prohibited by international humanitarian law”.

A separate strike in the port city of Hodeida hit a telecommunications centre, reportedly killing three children playing in a football field and downing the country’s internet access.

Hundreds also wounded as Saudi-led coalition denies reports it bombed detention centre in Sa’ada

MSF’s head of mission in Yemen, Ahmed Mahat, said: “There are many bodies still at the scene of the airstrike, many missing people. It is impossible to know how many people have been killed. It seems to have been a horrific act of violence.”

The strikes on rebel-held parts of Yemen came after a drone attack on Monday in Abu Dhabi for which the Houthi leadership claimed responsibility.

The UN security council condemned the Houthi attack, which killed three people and wounded six, in a statement on Friday: “The members of the security council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist attacks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday 17 January, as well as in other sites in Saudi Arabia,” it said.

“The members of the security council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.”

The UN estimates that the war in Yemen had killed 377,000 people by the end of 2021, both directly and indirectly through hunger and disease. Millions more have been displaced. It said earlier this week that the level of violence this month could soon surpass that witnessed in December, because of the number of airstrikes, drones and rockets launched, with an alarming number used against civilians and non-military targets.

World Opinions – theguardian.com

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Two best friends who set up a lemonade stand to raise money for the people of Yemen received a donation from a very unexpected source – Angelina Jolie.

Six-year-olds Ayaan Moosa and Mikaeel Ishaaq, from east London, created the stand after learning about the crisis.

The actress read about their campaign on the BBC News website and sent them a note saying she was sorry she could not buy any lemonade but wanted to donate.

Ayaan’s mother said it had been “a bit bizarre but amazing” for the appeal.

Angelina Jolie is a UNHCR special envoy and has previously spoken about the Yemen crisis

Adeela Moosa explained the Hollywood star had first contacted her UK representative after finding out about Ayaan and Mikaeel’s campaign, and they had then got in touch with the family.

At the weekend the boys, who live in Redbridge, received the “lovely note” from Ms Jolie along with “a very generous donation”, Ms Moosa said.

The actress and director apologised that she could not buy any of the boys’ lemonade

Asked what the boys had first thought when they found out about it, Ms Moosa said they initially did not know who Ms Jolie was although “their dads were very excited”.

They soon realised who the Tomb Raider and Maleficent star was after being shown various clips and films.”Now they’re getting the enormity of it all,” she said.

The pair have sent a video message in response thanking Ms Jolie, telling her that: “If you ever come to London, feel free to buy a glass of fresh lemonade.”

Along with their community, Ayaan and Mikaeel have raised more than £67,000 for Yemen

Tens of thousands of people have been killed during the civil war in Yemen, while another 24 million are estimated to need humanitarian aid to survive.Ms Jolie, who is a UNHCR special envoy, has previously spoken about the crisis in Yemen.

Ms Moosa said her donation had raised more awareness about the boys’ efforts and they were being sent money from across the world for their ongoing online campaign, which has so far raised more than £67,000.

As for the best friends, they have both returned to school this week.

“It was much needed for all parties involved,” Ms Moosa said.

World Opinions News – bbc.com

L’article Angelina Jolie donates to boys’ lemonade stand for Yemen.. Video est apparu en premier sur زوايا ميادين | Mayadin Columns.