Joint statement on the attack of an MSF health centre in Yemen by Federica Mogherini and Christos Stylianides

The attack on an MSF health centre in Razeh district, northern Yemen, which resulted in several casualties and many wounded today is unacceptable. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and colleagues of those affected at this time.

This tragic incident is the latest of a series of attacks on medical facilities and medical personnel recorded in Yemen since the start of the conflict. Such attacks that target humanitarian operations and civilians are clearly prohibited under International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

Parties to the conflict must respect the basic principles of IHL and refrain from deliberately targeting civilian infrastructures. Continuous disregard for IHL and basic human rights principles by parties to the conflict is further hindering efforts aimed at bringing a political solution to the crisis.

The solution to the conflict must be a political one and the EU urges all parties to engage without preconditions and in good faith in another round of UN-facilitated negotiations in January 2016.

Faced with a humanitarian situation of unprecedented size, the European Commission is continuing to provide humanitarian support in 2016 to populations across Yemen suffering as a result of the conflict, as well as from food insecurity and malnutrition.

STATEMENT/16/41

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