Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition killed 68 civilians in just one day, the United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator in Yemen has said, condemning such “indiscriminate” attacks in an “absurd and futile war”.

Strikes on two sites on 26 December took the total civilian death toll from air strikes in the last ten days to 109, in addition to 75 people who have been injured.

The UN accused the coalition of showing “complete disregard for human life” in an unusually direct criticism of the war in which the Saudi-led coalition, backed by the United States, Britain and others, is fighting Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

According to the organisation’s human rights office, one of the strikes hit a crowded public market in the Taiz governorate in the country’s south-west, killing 54 civilians and injuring 32 more. Eight children were among those killed.

The UN said residential areas of the province, including a health centre occupied by refugees, have been subjected to a full blockade imposed by Yemeni authorities and “indiscriminate shelling” that caused casualties and forced many families to flee.

A second air strike on a farm in the Hodeidah governorate reportedly killed 14 members of the same family.

Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the “escalated and indiscriminate” attacks being carried out by the Saudi-led coalition, which includes the United Arab Emirates and is backed by the UK, the US and others.

He said: “These incidents prove the complete disregard for human life that all parties, including the Saudi-led coalition, continue to show in this absurd war that has only resulted in the destruction of the country and the incommensurate suffering of its people, who are being punished as part of a futile military campaign by both sides.

“I remind all parties to the conflict, including the Saudi-led coalition, of their obligations under International Humanitarian Law to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure and to always distinguish between civilian and military objects.

The situation in Yemen Show all 14 1 /14 The situation in Yemen The situation in Yemen Houthi supporters trample on a US flag during a gathering mobilizing more fighters into several Yemeni battlefronts, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen People carry the coffins of men, who were killed in the recent Saudi-led airstrikes during their funeral, in the Old City of Sanaa, Yemen AP The situation in Yemen Pro-government fighters give food to Yemeni children on the road leading to the southwestern port city of Mokha. Yemeni rebels are putting up fierce resistance in a key Red Sea port city where they are encircled by pro-government force Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni stands in front of a graffiti protesting US military operations in war-affected Yemen, in Sana'a, Yemen. According to reports, US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen A Yemeni female fighter supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, takes part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen Yemeni female fighters supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, take part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A boy shouts slogans next to pro-Houthi fighters, who have been injured during recent fighting, during a rally held to honour those injured or maimed while fighting in Houthi ranks in Sanaa, Yemen Reuters The situation in Yemen Balls of fire and smoke rise from a Houthi-held military camp following alleged Saudi-led airstrikes, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy looks on as Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy sits amidst the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa AFP/Getty The situation in Yemen Marine One with US President Donald Trump flies with a decoy and support helicopters to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, for the dignified transfer of Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens who was killed in Yemen Getty Images The situation in Yemen US President Donald Trump aboard the Marine One to greet the remains of a US military commando killed during a raid on the al Qaeda militant group in southern Yemen on Sunday, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, US Reuters

“As the conflict in which civilians have borne the brunt marks 1000 days, I once again remind all parties that it has no military solution. There can only be a political solution.”

Estimates at the total death toll in Yemen stand at well over 10,000. More than 20 million people are said to be in need of humanitarian aid, including 14 million who are lacking clean water facilities. Seventeen million people are short of food and outbreaks of cholera have claimed thousands of lives.

The conflict began soon after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized power in Yemen in January 2015. They are opposed to Yemen’s internationally-recognised but exiled president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who has the backing of the Saudis. The conflict is now widely seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The number of air strikes in Yemen has increased in recent days following an attempted rocket attack by the Houthis on the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on 19 December. Saudi Arabia intercepted the missile and accused Iran of providing the weapon to the Houthis – a suggestion that was endorsed by the US.