The ongoing conflict in Yemen has resulted in over 32,000 casualties, 5,700 civilian deaths including 830 women and children, the United Nations said on Wednesday.
Nearly 8,875 or an average of 43 rights violations are occurring every day, it said, while warning of the deteriorating humanitarian situation and growing human rights violations in the country.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Johannes Van der Klaauw, said the conflict has left 82% of Yemen's population, around 21 million, in need of humanitarian aid.
The basic services have badly deteriorated amid lack of supplies primarily due to persistent conflict and a blockade on all Yemeni sea, land and air routes. The blockade was imposed by the Saudi-led coalition as part of the bombing campaign launched in late March.
Around14 million people lack access to healthcare, 19 million lack access to safe water and sanitation, 14 million are food insecure and 320.000 actuary malnourished children, Klaauw said, according to a statement by the UN news center.
Moreover, he said that an estimated 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes and an additional 120,000 have fled the country, according to the statement.
Separately, Human Rights Watch said in a press release on Wednesday that Houthi forces in Yemen are using banned antipersonnel landmines, causing multiple new civilian casualties.
“The Houthis are killing and maiming civilians with landmines,” said Steve Goose, arms director at Human Rights Watch.
“Antipersonnel landmines are indiscriminate weapons that should not be used under any circumstances. Houthi forces should immediately stop using these horrific weapons and respect Yemen’s obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty.”
The two statements coincided with raging battles between the Yemeni forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi militants in the provinces of Taiz, Dhali, Jawf and others.
The offensive to drive the militants out of Taiz continued for the third day with local sources saying dozens of fighters from both sides, 31 Houthis, were killed.
In the past two days, scores of fighters from both sides were killed in Taiz.
In Dhali, local sources said the national forces backed by the popular resistance fighters retook all positions seized by the Houthis lately in the district of Morais.