Civilian death toll in Yemen reaches 2800
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The United Nations released a report on Tuesday stating that the number of civilian casualties in Yemen increased dramatically in December despite the recent cease-fire enacted among the warring parties.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Spokesperson Rupert Colville stated in a press conference that “at least 81 civilians [were] reportedly killed and 109 injured in December” in the conflict in Yemen. According to the report the number of civilian casualties occurring as a result of the ongoing conflict has now risen to a total of 8119 including 2795 dead and 5324 wounded.
Colville said that “airstrikes have continued into the New Year” adding that “around 11 strikes [took] place in the capital Sana’a on Sunday and Monday and further airstrikes are reported to have been carried out in the early hours of this morning.” He also noted that at least 62 civilians were killed in airstrikes carried out by coalition forces in December.
Having underscored the alarming number of casualties Colville voiced concern that the coalition forces that are fighting with Houthi rebels have used cluster bombs.
“We have also received alarming information on the alleged use of cluster bombs by coalition forces in Hajjah Governorate. During a field visit to the village of Al-Odair in Haradh District an OHCHR team found 29 cluster submunitions near some banana and mango plantations” he said.
He further reported that the civilian population is facing serious difficulties in accessing essential items including foods and health facilities in the city of Taiz where violent clashes have continuously taken place.
Colville finally stated that “the health situation in the governorate has also continued to deteriorate with the Al-Rawdha Hospital which is one of the largest hospitals still operating forced to turn patients away.”
This is not the first occasion in which international concern regarding the humanitarian implications of the conflict in Yemen have been voiced. In October Amnesty International underlined the need for an independent investigation into possible war crimes resulting in thedestruction of a hospital. Later the UN World Food Programme called for all conflicting parties to permit thesafe passage of food.
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