SANAA, Yemen, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- U.N. agencies issued appeals for aid for humanitarian assistance in Yemen as Human Rights Watch accuses the government of human-rights abuses in the south.
Pratibha Mehta, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said relief agencies need more than $177 million to meet the needs of 1.6 million vulnerable Yemenis.
"Humanitarian needs are serious and increasing, and we fear that vital development gains are being lost," she said.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Yemenis suffer from chronic underdevelopment and the consequences from simmering conflict between government forces and al-Houthi rebels in the north of the country.
Yemen in August launched a major military campaign against al-Houthis in the north of the country. Aid groups complained the assaults left thousands of families displaces by the violence.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch in a 73-page report highlights alleged human-rights abuses by government forces in the south of the country.
The report documents government forces using lethal force against supporters of the so-called Southern Movement as well as journalists and academics.
HRW goes on to accuse the government of arresting demonstrators and journalists without warrant in the south.
"Yemeni authorities are violating basic rights in the name of maintaining national unity," said Joe Stork, deputy director at HRW's Middle East division.
