General Ahmed Asiri, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, claimed that the report was unbalanced, not based on reliable data and didn't serve the interests of Yemenis. He asserted that the sources were Houthi-linked, and therefore untrustworthy.
The UN refused to disclose its sources, despite a June 8 letter from Saudi UN Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, in which he asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reveal details.
"Protecting the sources of information that are used in this report, or any other report, is paramount, especially in a conflict area," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, cited by Reuters. "But we obviously welcome any information that the Saudi-led coalition may want to share with us."
In response, the UN removed the coalition from the list last week, stating that it intended to conduct a joint review of the data stated in the report. Riyadh, a key UN donor, had reportedly threatened to cut off funding to a Palestinian aid program and several other UN initiatives.
Human rights groups were outraged with the decision and accused the General Secretary of caving in to a form of blackmail by wealthy countries, adding that he risked harming his legacy as UN chief.
