IOM considers stopping its work in wake of Marib terrorist attack

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Saturday announced that it is currently assessing its ability to continue working in Yemen safely.

This came a day after a convoy of its employees was targeted by an armed ambush east of the city of Marib, which resulted in the death of two soldiers and the wounding of four others from the security forces.

In a statement, the organization confirmed that the convoy survived the attack, and that none of its employees were harmed, but it expressed its deep sorrow over the killing of two security personnel who were accompanying the convoy, which was on its way from Sayoun city of Hadramout province to Marib on a humanitarian mission.

“The organization is currently assessing its ability to safely continue its operations in this area,” the statement said.

The statement pointed to the dangers to which humanitarian workers in Yemen and the security personnel who guard them are exposed, saying that “they should never be targets of violence.”

Last Thursday evening, a convoy of the IOM was subjected to an armed ambush in Al-Abr area, east of Marib, killing and wounding 9 members of the “Hadhrami Brigade.”

YPA