This statement on the attack by gunmen yesterday on World Food Programme staff members in Turbah in the Taiz governorate of Yemen is attributable to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gressly. One staff member died in hospital shortly after the attack. He was the first humanitarian killed in the line of duty in Yemen this year.

I am shocked and deeply saddened by the appalling attack by unknown gunmen on World Food Programme (WFP) staff in Turbah today that left one staff member dead and another injured.

The entire UN family and humanitarian partners in Yemen are grieving the loss of Moayad Hameidi, a Jordanian national and dedicated humanitarian, who died in hospital shortly after the attack.

Hameidi, worked for WFP for 18 years, including on a previous posting in Yemen. He had only recently returned to the country to assume his new role as the head of WFP’s office in Taiz.

On behalf of the entire humanitarian community in Yemen, I convey my heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends at this very difficult time.

I also wish the injured staff member a speedy recovery.

Mr. Hameidi’s death is indeed an unacceptable tragedy. I call on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. Humanitarian workers should never be a target.