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Three International Committee of the Red Cross staff were among those killed in an explosion at Aden's airport in Yemen on 30 December in which at least 22 people died, and more than 50 people were wounded.
"We offer our prayers for all those who lost their lives in Aden in this deplorable attack that singled out civilians, including humanitarian workers, at a critical juncture in the peace process for Yemen.”
"We condemn these senseless acts of violence. Let us strengthen our resolution to pursue peace and justice for all, and find a plan to end one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis in Yemen," said Sauca.
Various media reports said loud explosions and gunfire were heard at Aden's airport, followed by smoke clouds and dust shortly after a plane from Saudi Arabia landed, carrying members of the country's new government.
In Croatia, a natural disaster struck on 29 December when at least seven people are known to have died in a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck the country's central part, 3 km (2 miles) from Petrinja.
Sauca expressed concerns about people in the quake-affected areas were already suffering mental distress after a powerful 5.4 earthquake had struck the capital Zagreb in March this year.
"During this critical time of the COVID-19 pandemic, we offer our prayers for those suffering from familial losses that those forced into shelter will prevail and be able to safely return to their normal lives soon with their loved ones," he said.
In Norway, the earth was also heaving, and on 30 December, a massive landslide destroyed homes in a village in Norway not far from the capital Oslo, that at least ten people unaccounted for and ten injured, at least one critically, said police and local media.
The landslide struck a residential area in Gjerdrum, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of the capital Oslo. Police said more than 1000 people had been evacuated from the area.
"Increasingly these days, our creation has upheavals that cause pain and suffering for humanity who are hit by destructive forces of nature. We pray for those missing and their relatives and ask our Lord to comfort them," said Sauca.
“As a global community, we offer our prayers and stand in solidarity with those who are coping with the aftermath in Yemen, in Croatia, in Norway and elsewhere”, said Sauca. “We pray for the responders who are helping on the scene, we pray for medical workers, and we pray for families who are mourning.”
WCC member churches in Middle East
