The U.N. report, produced after extensive consultations with Saudi Arabia, also said that the coalition had taken steps to improve their actions in the ongoing war, in which 10,000 people have been killed.

Famine and cholera have also plagued Yemen in which the Houthis and several other groups have fought the government of Abd-Rabu Mansour Hadi.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the Secretary-General, said the Secretary General is "appalled that more than 8,000 children were killed and maimed in conflict situations in 2016," referring to conflicts around the world including in Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen and by extremist groups including Boko Haram and al-Shabab. The highest number ever recorded in Afghanistan, which includes over 3,000 child deaths.

Several human rights groups heralded the decision to include the Saudi coalition on the list, since it had initially been placed on the list then removed from it in 2016, under the direction of a previous Secretary General.