The human rights activists and Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman has condemned the terrorist attack perpetrated on 21 April against the staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Taiz in southwestern Yemen, during which an employee lost his live.

“I condemn this terrorist attack on the employee of of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Hanna Lahoud is one of the few who have decided to work in humanitarian efforts in Yemen, which is facing internal and external wars. His death is a loss of humanitarian work in Yemen,” said Ms. Tawakkol Karman on social media.

Karman added, "I call for an urgent and transparent investigation to uncover the circumstances of this crime and reveal the perpetrators.”

Karman sent her sincere condolences to the family of Hanna Lahoud, his family and loved ones, stressing that the Yemeni people will not forget those extending their hand to help them.

The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed its deep sorrow over the killing of its staff member, Hanna Lahoud, in the central province of Taiz this morning.

In a press release issued today, the committee explained that Hanna Lahoud, a Lebanese national working for the ICRC delegation, was in charge of its detention program in Yemen.

He was on his way to visit a prison this morning when he was attacked on the outskirts of Taiz. He was taken to hospital and died from his injuries, the statement said. 

"We condemn this brutal and apparently deliberate attack that killed one of the most dedicated humanitarian workers," Robert Mardini, the ICRC's Middle East director, said in a statement. 

"We are all in shock, as Hanna was a young man full of life and was widely known and liked. Nothing can justify Hanna's murder and we are in deep mourning for our dear friend and colleague," Mr. Mardini added. 

Hanna Lahoud had been working for the ICRC since 2010 at various field locations and at Geneva headquarters. Before joining the ICRC, he also served for many years as a first aid volunteer and a member of the Lebanese Red Cross Society.