UN rights chief condemns rising civilian deaths as Yemen war escalates
Volker Turk said he was appalled by the surge in civilian casualties in Yemen, where fighting between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces has intensified.
On September 24, the UN rights chief denounced the escalating civilian toll in Yemen’s conflict between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces. He highlighted that recent Houthi control of the Red Sea coastline has resulted in hundreds of deaths and heightened concerns for global shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait. The United Nations warned that the number of displaced people could climb from over 130,000 to beyond 230,000 in the coming months.
Turk’s office documented at least 125 civilian casualties since August, including 32 killings of which 15 were children and three women, and noted attacks on displacement sites in Marib province. He urged all parties to distinguish civilians from combatants, respect protection zones, and allow safe delivery of food, water, shelter and medical care, warning that Yemen cannot endure another full-scale conflict.
Why it matters
The surge in civilian harm threatens regional stability and hampers humanitarian aid for millions in Yemen.
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