Yemen: High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk has expressed concern over the increasing civilian death toll resulting from Houthi group attacks in Yemen. Since August 6, at least 17 civilians have been killed in government-controlled areas, prompting Trk to issue a call for restraint and de-escalation.According to United Nations, the Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, exert control over approximately one-third of Yemen's territory, including the capital Sanaa and the crucial Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Despite their control, they lack international recognition, which is held by the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council based in Aden. Trk urged all parties involved to avoid further conflict and alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis that affects millions of Yemenis.UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, during a press briefing in New York, emphasized the necessity to halt attacks that exacerbate civilian suffering. On August 7, a missile launched by Ansar Allah hit the Jaw al-Naseem camp fo r displaced people in Marib, injuring six civilians, including a child. Subsequent missile and drone attacks on the Al-Mokha port on August 9 resulted in the deaths of three port workers and injuries to four others.The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is currently verifying reports of additional attacks on the port on August 14 and 15, which may have led to further casualties. A separate incident on August 11 involved an attack on a cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, killing four crew members and injuring several others. Among the civilian sites reportedly targeted were fuel storage facilities and a residential compound at the Saudi field hospital in Mokha.Trk stressed the importance of adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law, urging all parties to avoid targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. With 18 million Yemenis facing food insecurity, strikes on civilian infrastructure could worsen an already dire situation. OHCHR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo reiterated the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent Yemen from slipping back into full-scale conflict.Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, alerted the Security Council of the broader threat posed by Houthi attacks on commercial shipping, which endanger global trade and the fragile truce in Yemen. Reports suggest Yemeni Government forces conducted nearly 200 strikes on Houthi positions within a 24-hour period, resulting in significant casualties and the destruction of military assets.Yemen's ongoing political and humanitarian crisis, which began in 2011, has displaced millions, devastated the economy, and left approximately 20 million people in need of humanitarian aid.