UNESCO Condemns Saudi Coalition Over Historic Sites' Destruction in Yemen

A bombing raid on the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, carried out by the Saudi-led international coalition on Friday, destroyed a valuable part of Yemen's historical heritage, the Director General of UNESCO said in a statement on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to media reports, Friday’s attack on Sanaa's Old City killed five people and destroyed three buildings that had been listed by UNESCO as heritage sites.

“I am profoundly distressed by the loss of human lives as well as by the damage inflicted on one of the world’s oldest jewels of Islamic urban landscape,” Irina Bokova said.

The UNESCO chief added that the destruction would only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the country and reiterated the call to all parties to the conflict to protect Yemen's cultural heritage.

“This heritage bears the soul of the Yemeni people, it is a symbol of a millennial history of knowledge and it belongs to all humankind.”

The statement pointed out that during the conflict in Yemen several buildings within the heritage city of Sanaa have already suffered damage and collapses.

The latest case happened on Tuesday, when the Ottoman era Owrdhi historical compound was severely damaged during the hostilities.