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OHCHR alarmed at sharp increase in casualties after Yemen peace talks suspended

Xinhua, September 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

A total of 180 people have died and a further 268 were injured in August after UN-mediated peace talks were put on hold last month, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned Friday.

"This represents a 40 percent increase compared to the civilian casualties the previous month, with 60 killed and 123 injured," OHCHR spokesperson Cecile Pouilly reported.

"There has been an increased number of attacks against protected civilian objects, with at least 41 incidents affecting educational and health facilities, markets, places of worship, airports and civilian homes in August," she added.

The statement follows a deadly airstrike on a residential area in the town of Hudaydah on Sept. 21 which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians and a further 24 sustaining injuries.

"The death toll could be much higher, as our team continues to collect information," said Pouilly.

Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Houthis seized power and overturned the Yemeni government in late 2014.

In March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition launched a bombing campaign to restore the legitimacy of the government. However, the military intervention has deepened the conflict and crises across the country. Endit