The Director-General of UNESCO condemns the killing of journalist Adeeb Al-Janani during the attack on Aden airport
In a press release issued today, Wednesday, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, denounced the killing of Yemeni journalist Adeeb Al-Janani, who was killed along with several civilians who were killed in the attack on Aden Airport in Yemen on December 30, 2020.
In her statement, the Director-General said, “I am guilty of the attack that killed Adib Al-Janani, along with many civilians.”
It called on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to “protect civilians, including journalists, whose primary role in continuing to inform the public is of particular importance in times of conflict.”
According to a UNESCO statement, Adeeb Al-Janani was a reporter for the private Yemeni satellite channel, Belqis.
He died while presenting a live report on the arrival of a plane from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was carrying members of the newly formed Yemeni government.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations condemned the condemned attack on Aden airport, as soon as the news was received. In a press statement attributed to his spokesperson, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extended his deep condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and government of Yemen, and expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.
The Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s steadfast commitment to support efforts to resume a Yemeni-owned and led political process to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict that includes all.
For his part, the UN special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, affirmed his absolute condemnation of the “cowardly attack that took place on members of the Yemeni government upon their arrival at Aden airport.”
At least nine other journalists were reported injured in this attack.
UNESCO is working to enhance the safety of journalists through global awareness of their professional role, and through capacity-building and a set of concrete actions in this regard, particularly within the framework of the United Nations Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
Source: UN website
