File Photo: Children wait for collecting water from a charity pump near the port of Hodeidah, Yemen, on Sept. 30, 2018. Residents who live near the port of Hodeidah are dramatically affected by the war, especially after the recent escalating conflict. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN officials expressed concern on Wednesday over the escalating conflict in Yemen, the threat it poses for civilians and the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah -- key for the imports of humanitarian aid, saying the violence could cause "a human catastrophe."

"We continue to be deeply concerned by the escalating conflict in Yemen," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief.

He said "the fighting has now continued around the outskirts of Hodeidah City in the last 24 hours. About 2,100 people have reportedly fled their homes in the area close to the fighting."

While there were reports of civilian casualties, the spokesman said casualty figures were not immediately available.

"Humanitarian agencies have consistently warned that protracted fighting inside Hodeidah City, or any incident that interrupted port operations, could set off a humanitarian catastrophe," he told reporters during a regular briefing.

Dujarric said there also were concerns how the conflict has escalated in other fronts in Yemen, including southern Hodeidah Governorate, Hajjah and Saada governorates.

"The United Nations also continues to call on all parties to the conflict to do everything possible to respect international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure," he said.

The spokesman recalled how Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined last week urgent steps required to decrease the risk of famine in Yemen, including the need for the violence to stop immediately.

On Tuesday, the United Nations Children's Fund issued a plea for ending fighting around the main hospital in Hodeidah where there were 59 children patients, 25 of them in critical condition.