Red Cross says war leaves situation 'dire' in Yemen's Taez

Militants loyal to Yemen's exiled government ride on the back of a patrol truck in the country's central city of Taez.

Civilian areas in Yemen's Taez province are being indiscriminately shelled in escalating combat between pro-government forces and Houthi rebels, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a Friday statement.
Taez's health situation is "particularly dire," said the organisation, which regularly provides humanitarian assistance in war zones. The group has "serious difficulties" sending lifesaving medical and surgical supplies to hospitals in the province, according to its statement.
It says the fighting is destroying essential infrastructure in Taez, home to Yemen's third-largest city. It refused to blame one specific party for the destruction, urging all sides to abide by international law.
The ongoing shelling is hitting areas controlled by pro-government forces, officials close to them said, as well as witnesses, medical professionals and independent security officials. The anti-rebel troops had taken over much of the city of Taez earlier this month, but the Houthis still control its southwestern region and eastern border.
Officials in the Houthi media centre denied they were shelling civilians, instead blaming the violence on airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition also fighting the Houthis. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to brief journalists.
Fighting in Yemen pits Houthi rebels and troops loyal to a former president are against an array of forces including southern separatists, local and tribal militias, Sunni militants as well as troops loyal to President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi.
The conflict escalated in March when the Saudi-led coalition started launching airstrikes against the Houthis.
Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that "dozens of civilians" have been killed and wounded in the northeastern Hajjah province by "cluster munition rockets" that appear to be fired by the Saudi-led coalition.

• MENA