UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – The UN's children agency UNICEF has raised its estimate of children killed in Yemen since the start of Saudi-led coalition airstrikes to 74, with 44 maimed in what the agency said was conservative figures.
"At least 74 children are known to have been killed and 44 children maimed so far since the fighting began on 26 March. These are conservative figures and UNICEF believes that the total number of children killed is much higher, as the conflict has intensified over the past week," the UNICEF statement on Monday said.
UNICEF said that across the country, over 100,000 people have left their homes in search of safer places to stay. Hospitals are under increasing pressure as they struggle to manage mass casualties with insufficient supplies with some hospitals and medical facilities being attacked. So far, at least three health workers including an ambulance driver have been killed in various attacks.
Yemen has been torn apart by a conflict between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to displaced Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Last week, Saudi Arabia and its allies launched a military offensive on Houthi positions in Sanaa and Aden.
The rising death toll prompted Russia to call for a "humanitarian pause" in fighting. A UN resolution to this effect is being considered by the 15-nation UN Security Council.
