[ 25 April 2015 03:26 ]
Baku-APA. The United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Friday that at least 115 children had lost their lives in Yemen since March 26, with some 172 children injured as a result of the ongoing conflict, APA reports quoting Xinhua.
According to the organization, 64 of these children were killed by aerial bombardments, 26 by unexploded ordnances and mines, 19 by gunshots, 3 by shelling and 3 by undetermined conflict-related causes.
A total of 71 deaths were reported in the north of the country; 44 were in the south.
UNICEF warned that these figures were but conservative estimates and that the actual death toll was likely to be higher.
In light of the crisis, UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac expressed deep concerns as "urgent action is needed to end grave violations against children, including their recruitment and use by armed groups."
UNICEF reported that as many as 140 children had been recruited by local militias.
Boulierac furthermore stated that "as the conflict enters its fifth week, children remain the most vulnerable," adding that 30 schools had been damaged or destroyed.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) spokesperson Rupert Colville confirmed that "civilian casualties have continued to mount over the last few days and that the southern governorates are witnessing protracted violence."
Official estimates place the number of casualties since March 19 at over 1,080, with at least 4,350 injured.
