United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Tuesday condemned apparent airstrikes which reportedly killed around 130 people near the Red Sea port of Mokha in Yemen Monday, a statement from his office said Tuesday.
Missiles are believed to have hit two tents in the village of Wahijah on the outskirts of the city, where a man connected to the rebel Houthi movement was celebrating his marriage, according to the BBC.
The Saudi-led coalition, which has been launching airstrikes against the rebels for the last six months, denied it was responsible. They suggested local militias may have fired at the celebration, NBC News reported.
A spokesman for Ban said that he "condemned the disregard shown by all sides for human life" and called for an end to the conflict in Yemen. His statement read:
The Secretary-General condemns the airstrikes that reportedly struck a wedding party in Wahijah village, outside of the Red Sea port city of Mokha in Yemen, killing as many as 135 people. The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and a swift recovery to those injured.
The Secretary-General has consistently stated that there is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen. Its continuation will only bring more human suffering and destruction. Earlier today addressing the United Nations General Assembly, he condemned the disregard shown by all sides for human life.
The Secretary-General, therefore, again calls on all parties involved in the Yemeni conflict, from inside and outside the country, to immediately cease all military activities and resolve all differences through peaceful negotiations facilitated by his Special Envoy.
Any intentional attack against civilians is considered a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Violations of international law should be investigated through prompt, effective, independent and impartial mechanisms to ensure accountability.