Armed groups affiliated with the Al Qaeda and ISIL terror groups appear to have intensified their activities in Yemen, Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) declared on Tuesday, describing the situation as an example of “deeply worrying developments” that have seriously impacted civilians over the past ten days.
In a statement, the spokesperson noted that, during the period, the Office has verified 19 civilian deaths, and 42 injured, in districts of Taiz, Sa’ada and Aden.
The majority of the deaths resulted from an attack in the Al Thabet market area of Sa’ada Governorate on 29 July, in which 14 civilians were killed and 26 injured.
In the Al-Rawdhah neighbourhood of Taiz, Houthi-affiliated forces allegedly launched indiscriminate attacks on July 28, killing one child and injuring three other civilians, and reportedly attacked a hospital emergency department and ambulances on July 31.
In Aden and Abyan governerate, attacks on police and military installations claimed by Al Qaeda and Houthis were reported on August 1-2: civilians from the northern parts of Yemen have reportedly been victims of retaliation from “Security Belt” paramilitary forces, including assault, harassment and forcible displacement to areas bordering other governorates.