Houthi followers watch a televised speech by their leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi during a rally in Yemen’s capital Sanaa November 6, 2015

Landmines planted by Yemeni militias in an effort to halt the advance of pro-government forces are exacting a mounting toll on civilians, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.

Civilians already account for more than half of the 5,000 people killed since a Saudi-led coalition launched a military intervention against the Houthi militias in March, according to the United Nations.

“Landmines have killed at least 12 people and wounded over nine,” Human Rights Watch said, adding that the real casualty toll “may be much higher.”

“The Houthis are killing and maiming civilians with landmines,” said HRW’s arms director Steve Goose.

“Antipersonnel landmines are indiscriminate weapons that should not be used under any circumstances.”

The Houthis, backed by renegade troops still loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, overran the capital Sanaa in September last year and then seized much of the rest of the country.

Loyalist and coalition forces have pushed them out of most of the south since March and are battling them in Marib province east of the capital and around third city Taez.

The coalition too has been heavily criticized by human rights groups for the civilian death toll from its air strikes.

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