The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday said that at least 26 children have been killed in Yemen over the past two months during the violent political unrest that continues to sweep through the Middle East region.

UNICEF spokesperson Marixie Mercado told reporters in Geneva that more than 80 other children had been injured as a result of beatings or shots of live ammunition, while close to 800 had been exposed to tear gas, UN officials said.

UNICEF urged all parties in Yemen to protect children at all cost as ongoing protests grip the country, said Mercado.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council held consultations behind closed doors late Tuesday to discuss the situation in Yemen for the first time.