GENEVA
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has urged all sides in the conflict in Yemen to obey international humanitarian law and not target civilians.
The UNHCR reported in a written statement Tuesday that at least 364 civilians had lost their lives since March 26, including at least 84 children and 25 women, and at least 681 civilians injured.
Dozens of public buildings have reportedly been destroyed during air strikes.
Al Hussein said: "The parties to the conflict are obliged to ensure that international humanitarian law and international human rights law are scrupulously respected and that the civilian population is protected.
"Any suspected breach of international law must be urgently investigated with a view to ensuring victims’ right to justice and redress and to ensure that such incidents do not recur."
'Blatant violation'
Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies have been pounding Houthi positions across Yemen since March 25.
Riyadh says its anti-Houthi campaign comes in response to appeals by embattled Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to "save the [Yemeni] people from the Houthi militias."
The Houthis have described the Saudi-led air campaign as a "blatant violation of Yemeni territory."
Yemen has remained in turmoil since last September, when the Houthis overran capital Sanaa, from which they have since sought to extend their influence to other parts of the fractious country.
Some Gulf States accuse Iran of supporting Yemen's Houthi insurgency.
