Yemeni hospital hit by Saudi-led air strike: medical aid group MSF

Source: Guardian UK

Yemeni hospital hit by Saudi-led air strike: medical aid group MSF

By Noah Browning

DUBAI (Reuters) - A hospital in north Yemen run by medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) was bombed in Saudi-led air strikes, wrecking the facility and lightly wounding two staff members, the group said on Tuesday.

A Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in Yemen's civil war in March to try to restore its government after it was toppled by Iran-allied Houthi forces, but a mounting civilian death toll has alarmed human rights groups.

"Our hospital in the Heedan district of Saada governorate was hit several times. Fortunately, the first hit damaged the operations theater while it was empty and the staff were busy with people in the emergency room. They just had time to run off as another missile hit the maternity ward," MSF country director Hassan Boucenine told Reuters by telephone from Yemen.

"It could be a mistake, but the fact of the matter is it's a war crime. There's no reason to target a hospital. We provided (the coalition) with all of our GPS coordinates about two weeks ago," he said. At least two staff members were hurt by flying debris, according to Boucenine.

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