The UN reported that 95 civilians were killed and a further 129 injured as a result of airstrikes and fighting in the northern Yemeni city of Taiz.
According to information collected by the UN's Human Rights Office, 53 of these civilian deaths were caused by a series of Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on August 20, which reportedly hit 20 homes near the Salah Palace in Taiz.
@ohchr:53civilian deaths in#Taiz on Aug20 as a result of airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition forces near Salah Palace http://t.co/cvb8HvRbmw
— UN Info Centre Cairo (@UNICCairo) September 2, 2015
It had been reported that Houthi fighters were using the palace as a base at the time of the incident.
Of the 95 civilians deaths in the past fortnight, the UN said that 42 of these were killed by sniper and shelling attacks, reportedly committed by militia groups associated with the Houthis.
In another incident, an estimated 21 civilians, including women and children, were killed, with reports suggesting a coalition airstrike was responsible for hitting a teachers' syndicate building in the country's Amran region.
"We are alarmed by the steep increase in the number of civilian casualties in Taiz in recent weeks, as well as the untenable humanitarian situation," spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Cécile Pouilly, said.
Friendly Fire, Worsening Humanitarian Concerns
The criticism of the Saudi-led bombing campaign and its impact on Yemeni civilians has been compounded by reports that a coalition airstrike killed seven fighters loyal to ousted Yemen leader Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, in a case of friendly fire.
Millions of people in #Yemen are in need of assistance to access safe #water and sanitation. v/@unicefireland pic.twitter.com/mhJr7WDsBc
— Kent Page (@KentPage) September 2, 2015
Hadi is backed by Riyadh and the West, while the Saudi-led bombing campaign is part of an attempt to remove the Houthi rebel group, who forcibly took control of Yemen earlier this year.
In addition to the deaths caused by fighting, there has been widespread concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen, with critics citing the Saudi-imposed naval blockade of Yemen's ports as a major factor exacerbating the suffering of civilians, as the country relies heavily on imports for food and medical supplies. Pouilly said:
"We are also very concerned about the disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation of attacks by coalition forces on Hodeidah port, which is a key entry point for humanitarian supplies and commercial imports into Yemen. We urge all parties to allow and facilitate unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief."
Since the Saudi-led coalition initiated its air campaign which kicked off in March, 2,112 civilians have been killed and a further 4,519 wounded according to UN figures. However, many believe these numbers are quite conservative and that the real figures are much higher.
Critics of the airstrikes have continuously called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of fighting in the impoverished Arab nation.
