Geneva, May 30 (IANS): A total of 1,068 civilians have been killed and 2,551 others have been wounded since the start of the Saudi-led coalition launched an offensive against the Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen in late March until May 24, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Efe news agency reported.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), which collects data exclusively from medical centres, said on Friday that the number of fatalities stands at 1,976, while it found 8,034 people had been wounded.

A number of 112 children were among the deceased, and 242 were wounded.

Neither the OHCHR nor WHO has been able to specify the circumstances under which the casualties or injuries occurred.

Yemen, a country on the brink of being a failed state, has suffered major political instability since 2011, which was further aggravated in recent months by the advance of the Houthi rebels, a Shia group backed by Iran, on the Sunni leadership.

Riyadh, which supports Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Hadi Mansour, launched an offensive against the Houthis and their allies on March 19, a move that was harshly criticised by Tehran and other Shia parties.

Around 12 million people are in need of urgent assistance in Yemen, according to the UN.