The United Nations on Monday bowed to a demand by Saudi Arabia that its coalition striking Yemen be removed from a blacklist of nations and armed groups responsible for killing children.

The United Nations on Monday bowed to a demand by Saudi Arabia that its coalition striking Yemen be removed from a blacklist of nations and armed groups responsible for killing children, The Telegraph reported.

Although a spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general,  said the decision was temporary, pending a review of the evidence, human rights campaigners expressed outrage that the global body had succumbed to pressure.

Philippe Bolopion, deputy director for global advocacy at Human Rights Watch, said the decision was "deeply disturbing".

Last week the UN added Saudi Arabia's coalition to its annual blacklist of states and armed groups that violate children's rights during conflict.

It said it was responsible for 60 per cent of the 785 children killed in Yemen last year.

"Grave violations against children increased dramatically as a result of the escalating conflict," said Mr. Ban in the report, as he blamed both sides for the killings.

Yemen has been since March 26, 2015 under brutal aggression by Saudi-led coalition. Thousands have been martyred and injured in the attack, with the vast majority of them are civilians.

Riyadh launched the attack on Yemen in a bid to restore power to fugitive Hadi who is a close ally to Saudi Arabia.