The United Nations in Yemen has criticised the Saudi-led coalition for bombing what it termed was “effectively, trapped civilians”.
According to a BBC report quoting local aid workers, civilians in the northern city of Saada are struggling to flee Saudi-led coalition air strikes targeting Houthi rebels.
The UN warned that the indiscriminate bombing of populated areas was against the international law. The UN says that the Saudi airstrikes, so far, have killed close to 1500 people, more than half civilians.
The UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Yemen, Johannes Van Der Klauuw, said “many civilians are effectively trapped in Saada” because of fuel shortage.The Saudi-led coalition said it regarded Saada a “military zone”.
Van Der Klauuw said that the decision to target the entire province “will put countless civilians at risk”.
Early on Sunday, Saudi planes targetted the home of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in the capital, Sanaa. But the former president is believed to be unharmed.
Saleh along with the Houthi rebels captured Sanaa last year and now control much of the country.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has offered a five-day ceasfire starting on Tuesday to allow the “delivery of humanitarian supplies” but said that it would respond to any violations.