Tribesmen loyal to Houthi rebels ride on a pickup truck in Yemen

Yemen’s ministry of human rights has said that nearly 38,000 Yemeni civilians have been killed and injured at the hands of Houthi militias and those allied to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh since the war began in 2014.

These numbers came as part of a report presented by the Yemeni Deputy Minister of Human Rights, Mohammed Askar, during a human rights council meeting in Geneva on Monday, discussing the situation in Yemen during the period between January 1, 2015 to January 31, 2017.

According to Askar, Houthi bombings in populated areas, villages and farmlands and roads led to 673 civilians injuries and deaths, mostly women and children.

The report also mentioned that the militia kidnapped 16,804 activists, reporters and academics. Moreover, those who have been released suffer from serious health and psychological issues, and some 2,866 where forced to disappear.

The report also shows that the militia used children to fuel their war and increase their numbers; they recruited more than 1,000 children under the age of 18, as well as recruiting female fighters.

Destroying infrastructure

According to the report, the Houthi militia destroyed more than 29,000 establishments, which include government buildings, schools, hospitals, water and electricity facilities, roads and bridges.

Nearly 26,000 private properties, including homes and residential buildings, markets, cars, farms and factories were also destroyed.

During the session, Askar demanded the implementation of immediate support from the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s Office towards the human rights program in Yemen, as well as calling for the condemnation of Houthi militia and ousted President Saleh, holding them responsible for violations committed in Yemen and for the declining humanitarian situation.