Nun recounts details of massacre in Yemen retirement home

A nun who survived the attack of the Islamic State on a retirement home in Yemen early this month recounted what happened during the massacre, where four nuns and 12 others were killed and a priest has gone missing.

In a detailed account, Sister Sally narrated the events that took place on March 4 at the Missionaries of Charity, a church-run home for the elderly in the port city of Aden in the southeast coast of Yemen. As she recalled the details, her narrative was jotted down by Sister Adriana, the notes of which were posted by Catholic site Aleteia.

"8:30 am - ISIS dressed in blue came in, killed guard and driver. 5 young Ethiopian men (Christian) began running to tell the Sisters ISIS was here to kill them. They were killed one by one. They tied them to trees, shot them in the head and smashed their heads," the handwritten notes read.

As everyone was getting killed around her, Sister Sally stood behind the door in the Refrigerator Room.

"At least 3 times they came into the Fridgerator Room," Sister Adriana wrote. "She did not hide but remained standing behind the door -- they never saw her. This is miraculous."

The men left at around 10 to 10:15 a.m. and the police arrived at around 10:30 a.m. She was taken to the Doctors Without Borders hospital.

The four nuns who died were identified as Sister Judith from Kenya, Sister Anselm from India, and Sisters Marguerite and Reginette from Rwanda. According to the the Catholic News Agency, other victims were mostly volunteers, but the approximately 80 residents of the elderly home were not harmed. Father Thomas Uzhummanii is believed to have been kidnapped by the assailants.

In a statement, Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin said, as posted by the Vatican Network, "In the name of God, [Pope Francis] calls upon all parties in the present conflict to renounce violence, and to renew their commitment to the people of Yemen, particularly those most in need, whom the Sisters and their helpers sought to serve."

Bishop Paul Hinder, apostolic vicar of the Arabian peninsula, told the CNA that the people at the Missionaries of Charity died as martyrs and that they were victims of hatred against the Christian faith.

The nuns and volunteers were not the only victims in Yemen in the past months as the country is currently in turmoil. More recently, at least 26 people were killed and dozens injured as three suicide bombers attacked checkpoints in the same city, Aden, on Friday, March 25. According to Reuters, the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which coincided with the anniversary of the civil war in the country.