Sharp drop in civilian casualties since Yemen truce

The number of civilian casualties in war- torn Yemen has dropped by over 50 percent since a two- month truce took effect in early April, an aid group said on Wednesday.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said civilian casualties totaled 95 in April, down from 213 in March, citing data from the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project.

“The figures provide clear proof of the benefits from the truce. During April, many families were spared from having their lives shattered by the loss of family members to a meaningless war,” NRC’s Yemen country director Erin Hutchinson said in a statement. “For the sake of the Yemeni people and their future, we hope the parties to the conflict will extend the truce.”

The Yemen conflict pits the internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudiled military coalition, against Iran- backed Huthi rebels.

It has killed hundreds of thousands of people and pushed the Arab world’s poorest country to the brink of famine.

But a renewable two- month truce that took effect on April 2 has provided a rare respite from violence in much of the country.

The NRC said there had been a “significant reduction” in the number of people killed or wounded by air strikes, shelling and gunfire.

However, it added that despite a sharp reduction in violence, the number of casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance remained the same or higher.

“We urge the warring parties to adhere to their commitments and work to find a peaceful resolution to this conflict, which has already killed and maimed thousands, and deprived millions of their livelihoods,” Hutchinson said.