By Chinasaokwu Helen Okoro
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Yemen Red Crescent Society (YRCS) acted quickly in the aftermath of the airstrike, delivering emergency medical aid, evacuating the injured, and managing the remains of those who lost their lives.
Christine Cipolla, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen, condemned the incident and highlighted the extreme vulnerability of detained migrants. “It is unimaginable that individuals who are detained, with no means of escape, can be caught in such violence,” she said. “This tragedy illustrates how civilians in Yemen—particularly migrants—face escalating risks of death, serious injury, and profound psychological trauma.”
A deafening silence
Despite the severity of the attack, no African government has issued a statement or condemnation. Ovigwe Eguegu, a geopolitical analyst, described the lack of response to The Africa Report as “deafening.”
He criticized both the African Union and its member states for their “shockingly muted” stance. According to Eguegu, fears of political or economic repercussions—particularly under the Trump administration’s tough foreign policy—have left many African leaders hesitant to speak out.
This airstrike follows another recent U.S. attack on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil terminal that killed 74 people, suggesting a troubling trend of rising civilian casualties.
The growing death toll has prompted renewed international appeals for urgent humanitarian aid and stronger protections for vulnerable populations—especially migrants caught in Yemen’s increasingly lethal conflict.
