Sanaa, Dec 28 (AFP) Sixty-eight Yemeni civilians werekilled in two separate air raids by the Saudi-led Arabcoalition in one day, the UN humanitarian Coordinator in YemenJamie McGoldrick said today.
The first air strike on Tuesday hit a "crowded popularmarket" in Taez province, killing 54 civilians including eightchildren, and wounding 32 others, he said in a statement.
The second raid was in the Red Sea province of Hodeidaand killed 14 people from the same family, the statement said.
"I remain deeply disturbed by mounting civiliancasualties caused by escalated and indiscriminate attacksthroughout Yemen," McGoldrick said.
In addition to the casualties from Tuesday's two airraids, another 41 civilians were killed and 43 wounded overthe previous 10 days of fighting, he said.
The Arab coalition intensified its air campaign targetingthe Iran-backed Huthi rebels after December 19 when Saudi airdefences intercepted a ballistic missile the insurgents firedat the Saudi capital Riyadh.
"These incidents prove the complete disregard for humanlife that all parties, including the Saudi-led coalition,continue to show in this absurd war that has only resulted inthe destruction of the country and the incommensuratesuffering of its people," McGoldrick said on Thursday.
He said civilians "are being punished as part of a futilemilitary campaign by both sides".
"I remind all parties to the conflict, including theSaudi-led coalition, of their obligations under InternationalHumanitarian Law to spare civilians and civilianinfrastructure and to always distinguish between civilian andmilitary objects," he said.
The UN official said the conflict in Yemen has nomilitary solution and could be resolved only throughnegotiations.
The Arab coalition intervened in support of theinternationally recognised government in March 2015 after theShiite Huthis took over the capital Sanaa and much of Yemen.
But despite the coalition's superior firepower, therebels still control the capital and much of the north.
More than 8,750 people have been killed since thecoalition intervened, according to the World HealthOrganization. (AFP)NSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.