YEMEN: A quarter of all civilian casualties are children

Eight-year-old Omar* from Taiz is recovering from his injuries after surviving artillery shelling which killed his older brother. According to Omar’s* doctor, he will fully recover and will be able to walk within six weeks.

• Millions of children at risk of death, injury, starvation, or disease as the world’s worst famine in decades looms.
• Civilians – especially children – continue to pay the heaviest price as conflict enters its seventh year.

Over the past three years almost one in four civilian casualties[i] in Yemen were children (22.85 percent)[ii], new analysis by Save the Children reveals. Between 2018 and 2020, there were 2,341 confirmed child casualties, though the actual number is likely to be much higher. In addition, the conflict is getting deadlier for children. In 2018, one in five civilian casualties were children, but in 2019 and 2020, that jumped to one in four.

It’s a stark reminder that children and families are paying the heaviest price for this brutal war through no fault of their own.  

As Yemen marks six years of conflict, its people are suffering the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world, where 2 in 3 people need help to survive, and where children are dying from entirely preventable causes in their thousands.

A man-made famine is also looming, made worse by recently announced aid cuts, long-standing restrictions on humanitarian access, economic collapse, attacks on civilian infrastructure like schools and hospitals, and active fighting in heavily populated areas.

The conflict has also led to serious threats to children’s safety and well-being. Last year alone, Save the Children identified and assisted 316 child survivors of at least one of the six grave violations against children in conflict.

Just when Yemeni children need the world’s help, overall funding levels currently stand at less than half of what is needed[iii], Save the Children warned. This year, funding for the organisation’s treatment of children impacted by the conflict has reduced by more than 40 percent compared to last year.[iv]

This funding shortfall will affect children like eight-year-old Omar*, who was out playing in the city of Taiz a few weeks ago when an artillery shell exploded nearby, seriously injuring him and killing his elder brother Mahmoud*. Save the Children is covering Omar’s medical expenses.

Eight-year-old Omar* said:

“I was on my way home with a friend, and I wanted to go find my brother when the artillery shell hit us. I was paralyzed for a moment. I was looking for my brother, but I saw an old man on the ground. Then someone on a motorbike picked me up and took me to the hospital. I want toys to be able to play but I don’t want any shelling.” 

Omar’s mother, Fathiya*, said:

“I want the world to alleviate the suffering of the children in Taiz. I wonder why a shell should kill a child who is just playing. This is the biggest crime; it destroys the lives of mothers and children. Omar* keeps telling me he hopes there will be another explosion so he can play again with his brother [in heaven].” 

The international community has tried but so far failed to bring the warring parties to the negotiating table or to implement a ceasefire, as fighting continues to persist with devastating consequences for children. Meanwhile, the warring parties have shown little regard for human life and civilian infrastructure. The health system is at breaking point, with more than half of all health facilities closed or only partially functioning. Many hospitals have been damaged by airstrikes or ground fighting, and there is widespread critical shortage of essential medicines and qualified staff.  

Xavier Joubert, Save the Children’s Yemen Country Director, said:

“Yemeni children have been living through a horrific and endless nightmare for six years now. Children continue to be killed and injured on a near-daily basis. They go to bed hungry, see people starving to death, and miss out on school. Everyday children risk death or injury if they venture outside and get caught up in the frequent shelling and bombing of places where they should feel safe – homes, schools, hospitals, and marketplaces.

“All parties to the conflict must fully implement a ceasefire as soon as possible. The ceasefire should be used to work towards a sustainable peace and a political solution to this war – it’s the only way to truly end this humanitarian catastrophe.”

Gabriella Waaijman, Global Humanitarian Director for Save the Children, said:

“Without urgent action, the humanitarian situation, already the worst in the world, is set to deteriorate further with the very real risk of famine, mass civilian casualties, and total collapse of basic services. This is a man-made disaster resulting from a conflict that is being waged with near complete disregard for the well-being and safety of the civilian population. Almost every day we hear of children and families caught up in the fighting, often paying with their lives.

“If the UN’s predictions are correct, the worst famine in decades could kill hundreds of thousands of children. We must do everything we can to prevent this from happening.”

*names changed to protect identity.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• Yemen is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world with 20.7 million – or 66% of the population - including 11.3 million children in need of assistance.
• According to a UNDP report, the conflict has already set back human development in Yemen by 21 years.
• The economy has contracted by nearly 50% over the last three years. Cumulative losses in real GDP are estimated at $49.9 billion, and inflation is estimated to have accelerated to over 40%.
• 1.8 million children under five are suffering from Moderate Acute Malnutrition and almost 400,000 children under five are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition and at heightened risk of death. More here.
• As of March 2021, funding for Save the Children’s treatment of children who have been impacted by the conflict is 44% less than last year.
• 2 million children are out of school, depriving them of an education and exposing them to greater child protection risks.
• Save the Children is reaching the most vulnerable children across Yemen, making sure they have enough food to eat, can access healthcare, can continue their education, and are protected from violence. Save the Children is one of the largest independent NGO in Yemen, and our teams work around the clock to ensure that children’s rights are protected. Since the beginning of the crisis, we’ve reached more than four million children with crucial support.
• Content available: Omar*, 8, case study of conflict. Omar*, 7 months, case study of malnutrition. Arwa*, 16, case study of conflict. Yasmeen*, 5, case study of conflict. Social video.