A/HRC/39/43 campaign causing significant civilian casualties. On 8 October 2016, in one of the deadliest incidents, the coalition targeted Al-Kubra Hall in Sana’a during a funeral, killing at least 137 male civilians and injuring 695, including 24 boys. In addition to air strikes, coalition naval forces imposed severe restrictions and, in late 2017, enforced a de facto blockade on Yemeni seaports, hindering imports of essential supplies to the country. In August 2016, the coalition effectively closed Sana’a International Airport. The airport remains closed to commercial aviation to date. 19. Intense hostilities continue in certain parts of Yemen despite the grave humanitarian impact on the population. The violence is exacerbated by food insecurity, limited access to health care and restrictions on imports of vital commodities. The non-payment of public sector salaries since August 2016, following the Government’s move of the central bank from Sana’a to Aden, has also had a devastating impact on civilians. 20. The well-established front lines remain largely unmoved after three years of fighting, although control of territory continues to change hands at the local level. The United Arab Emirates has established control across southern Yemen, both by its direct action and through its proxy forces, namely the Security Belt Forces, the Hadrami Elite Forces and the Shabwani Elite Forces, despite resistance from President Hadi, who has disavowed those forces (see S/2018/242). 21. In 2015 and 2016, suicide and other attacks, claimed by Al-Qaida and groups affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, ravaged Sana’a, Aden and elsewhere, resulting in high civilian casualties. 22. On 4 November 2017, the Houthis fired a missile into Saudi Arabia. Two days later, the coalition announced a complete blockade of all the country’s borders — air, sea and land; over the following weeks, it was gradually lifted. In 2018, the Houthis continued to launch missiles into Saudi Arabia. 23. The simplistic view of a binary conflict between the Government and the HouthiSaleh alliance, while never accurate, had become increasingly muddled as loyalties shifted, armed groups proliferated and factions fragmented. 24. Following continued tensions between the Houthis and Saleh allies, their forces clashed in Sana’a in December 2017. Former President Saleh was killed by the Houthis. In January 2018, the Southern Transitional Council, established in May 2017, declared a state of emergency in Aden and its supporters clashed heavily with government forces. A cautious calm resumed following intervention by the coalition. The Southern Transitional Council forces, backed heavily by the United Arab Emirates, continue to control major cities in southern Yemen. 25. In June 2018, the coalition and affiliated forces launched an offensive on Hudaydah. After a few weeks, it was halted, ostensibly to allow space for United Nations mediation efforts. As over 120,000 displaced people have fled the governorate, humanitarian agencies have warned of grave risks to civilians if fighting affects the critical port city. 26. Since March 2017, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has designated Yemen as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. In April 2018, out of a population of 29.3 million, 22.2 million persons were in need of humanitarian assistance, including 11.3 million in acute need. Needs extend across all sectors, including health, food, sanitation and water, housing and protection. E. 1. Violations of international law Attacks affecting civilians 27. From March 2015 to June 2018, there were at least 16,706 civilian casualties, with 6,475 killed and 10,231 injured in the conflict; however, the real figure is likely to be significantly higher. 28. Coalition air strikes have caused most of the documented civilian casualties. In the past three years, such air strikes have hit residential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, 5