Three Red Cross members reported killed in Aden airport explosion
A video grab shows the moment an ordnance hit the Aden Airport on December 30, 2020, shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying members of a new unity government. - Explosions rocked Yemen's Aden airport on Wednesday shortly after the arrival of a plane carrying members of a new unity government, an AFP correspondent at the scene said. "At least two explosions were heard as the cabinet members were leaving the aircraft," the correspondent said. Yemen's internationally recognised government and southern separatists formed a new power-sharing cabinet on December 18, and arrived in the southern city of Aden on Wednesday, days after being sworn in Saudi Arabia. (Photo by - / AFPTV / AFP) (Photo by -/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)
The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that it is "profoundly saddened that three of our colleagues were among those killed in Aden's airport explosion."
"Our staff were transiting through the airport with other civilians when the explosion occurred."
"This is a tragic day for the ICRC and for the people of Yemen," said Dominik Stillhart, ICRC director of operations, said.
"The Yemeni people have endured a terrible amount of suffering over the last five years. A day like this adds even more grief both for the Red Cross family and for the Yemeni families who had loved ones killed or injured in this explosion."
One ICRC staff member killed in the blast was a Yemeni citizen who helped coordinate ICRC's air transport activities, which included overseeing the transport home of more than 1,000 former detainees in October. The second staff member was a Rwandan national who helped those in need as an X-ray technician. The third staff member was a Yemeni health officer in an ICRC-supported hospital who had been pursuing his Ph.D. in the field of medicine.
"The deaths and injuries caused by the blast are a heavy blow for many families," said Katharina Ritz, ICRC head of delegation in Yemen. "We extend our sincere condolences to the families of all victims, and we hope for a speedy recovery for anyone injured. Yemen has endured many difficult days; we hope for a brighter one tomorrow."