Local Editor

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR] reported on Tuesday that the civilian death toll in Yemen has risen to at least 1,916, with another 4,186 civilians wounded since the escalation of the conflict in March.

A Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States has been carrying out airstrikes against Yemen since March. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the UN.

The conflict continues to cause death, injuries and damage to homes and infrastructure, the UN said. 

"We are also deeply concerned about attacks against civilian infrastructure, including places of worship, hospitals and schools," UN spokesperson Cécile Pouilly told reporters. 

On 24 July, at least 73 civilians were killed and 93 injured when two residential compounds in Yemen’s Taiz were hit. The compounds housed the families of workers of Al Mokha Steam Power Plant. 

Additionally, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] said on Tuesday that almost 100,000 people have fled Yemen since conflict erupted there in March but the agency’s regional response to this outflow is just one fifth funded.

"With funding also low for operations inside Yemen, UNHCR is concerned that delivery of assistance there, as well as to refugees fleeing the country, will be at risk without additional funding soon," spokesperson Adrian Edwards said at a press briefing in Switzerland’s Geneva.

Some 1.2 million internally displaced people and approximately 250,000 refugees continue to need assistance in extremely challenging conditions with severely restricted access, UNHCR noted.

UNHCR requires $105.6 million for its emergency response inside Yemen. It has only received about 23 per cent of that.