Yemen: 16 killed in attack on care home run by Mother Teresa sisters

Aden from sea - Wiki image

At least 16 people were killed on Friday, in an attack by gunmen on a care home for the elderly and disabled in Aden, run by the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia confirmed that the dead include four Missionary Sisters (two from Rwanda, one from India and one from Kenya) and several of their helpers (including at least five from Ethiopia). It is understood that no residents served by the sisters were harmed. The Superior of the Convent was also unharmed, but there is concern for the safety of the Indian Salesian priest Fr Tom Uzhunnalil,whose whereabouts are unknown. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the atrocity.

On 9 December 2015 the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Aden suffered severe damage when explosives were detonated by militants. The church had last been used in March 2015. The context of these attacks is one of ongoing warfare and humanitarian disaster in Yemen. Aden was recaptured from Houthi militants by forces loyal to President Hadi in July 2015, though conditions of lawlessness prevail in which extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are active.

Source: MEC/Fides