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UN chief voices disappointment at no ceasefire in Yemen

Xinhua, July 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon has expressed disappointment that a planned ceasefire in Yemen did not take place over the weekend, and called on all sides on the ground to "prevent deterioration of the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe" in the conflict-worn country, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told journalists here Monday.

"Obviously the secretary-general is very much disappointed that the humanitarian pause did not take hold over the weekend in Yemen, " Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

The planned pause had been announced by the secretary-general's spokesperson Thursday. The UN special envoy had received commitments from Yemeni parties that fighting would stop at 2059 GMT Friday and that a humanitarian pause would continue after the end of Ramadan on July 17.

It became apparent over the weekend, however, that the pause had not been respected.

Reports of airstrikes continued, including reports of a Saudi- led airstrike earlier Monday which, according to witnesses and medics, left at least 21 civilians killed and 45 others wounded in a residential neighborhood in Yemen's capital of Sanaa.

The United Nations had hoped that the pause would allow humanitarian agencies to reach civilians with essential medicines, vaccinations, food and water.

According to Dujarric, some humanitarian assistance had been distributed despite the continued airstrikes but was not yet able to provide a full report of what that assistance had consisted of.

"Despite the continued airstrikes, despite the fighting, our humanitarian colleagues and their partners were able to distribute some vital aid to the desperate people of Yemen," said the UN spokesman, who added that delivery of humanitarian assistance was made much more difficult because of the ongoing security situation.

"We continue to reiterate our call for an unconditional humanitarian pause," Dujarric said. "I would say that the secretary-general reminds all parties in the conflict in Yemen, from both inside and outside the country, of their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law." Endite