The United Nations called on all factions in Yemen on Tuesday to cease attacks on civilians and urged the government to allow access for aid supplies and UN human rights monitors. In coordinated statements, the UN human rights office, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Yemen Humanitarian Coordinator voiced concern about the deteriorating situation despite the signing of a peace deal nearly two weeks ago. “We condemn continuing attacks on civilians particularly in Taiz where we are seeing reports that 22 people have been killed in shooting and shelling since Thursday last week (Dec. 1), including two children,” Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, told a news briefing. “The continued use of disproportionate force by part of the government security forces despite commitments made to investigate serious human rights violations is extremely disappointing,” she said. “The killings must stop immediately and we urge all sides to halt the use of violent force.” UNICEF said that its figures showed that 3 children had been killed and 7 injured in the latest round of violence in Taiz. “That brings the total number of children killed so far to 138, the majority through live ammunition. This includes bullets, shelling and missile attacks,” UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado said, adding that 568 children had been wounded to date. “Our youngest victim thus far was 3 months old, killed in Taiz on the first of December,” she told reporters in Geneva. Heavy shelling and street fighting have damaged civilian neighborhoods and forced many residents to flee their homes in Taiz, the Yemen Humanitarian Country Team that links UN and other aid agencies said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
