Geneva  - People displaced by the ongoing conflict in Yemen are "struggling to survive" after a second ceasefire in less than a month collapsed over the weekend, a United Nations spokesman said Tuesday.

Civilians were continuing to flee the fighting in the Saada province to camps, while others remained trapped in the crossfire between government forces and a Shiite rebel group, as UN agencies tried to deliver humanitarian aid.

"Some walk for days through the desert. Once they reach the camps they are provided assistance, but life is difficult," said Andrej Mahecic, a spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

He said refugees were reporting infants and children dying on the marches through the desert to the camps.

"People in the camps are struggling to survive daily hardships as well as brutal weather," Mahecic said, noting that heavy rains were washing away and damaging tents.

The UN said its aid stockpiles were running out and it needed both warring parties to grant it access to the civilians in need of help.  dpa