Nearly 1,200 Children Killed or Injured in Yemen Despite UN-Led Ceasefire, Save the Children Analysis Reveals
Despite a United Nations-brokered ceasefire that has largely reduced hostilities in Yemen for four years, nearly 1,200 children have been killed or injured due to ongoing violence, according to a new report from the humanitarian organization Save the Children. The United Kingdom-based group released an analysis on Thursday, detailing the devastating impact of shelling, gunfire, landmines, and other explosive remnants of war on Yemen's youngest population.
Shocking Statistics on Child Casualties
Since the truce was implemented on April 2, 2022, at least 339 children have been killed and 843 injured, with many suffering life-altering injuries. The data, collected from the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project (CIMP) under the UN Protection Cluster, shows that children are more than three times more likely than adults to be killed or injured by explosive remnants. Alarmingly, nearly one in two child casualties—511 children—resulted specifically from landmines and unexploded ordnance.
While overall civilian casualties have decreased since the ceasefire halted major fighting between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-aligned Houthis, the percentage of children harmed by explosive devices has risen significantly compared to the four years prior to the truce. Save the Children attributes this troubling trend to a lack of mine risk awareness and increased exposure due to child labor, as children often work in hazardous areas to support their families.
Life-Altering Injuries and Psychological Trauma
The report highlights that blast injuries have led to permanent disabilities for many children, including spinal injuries, limb amputations, and loss of sight and hearing. Beyond the physical harm, these incidents cause severe psychological distress, with children experiencing difficulty sleeping, daily fear, and anxiety. "These figures are a reminder that beyond the front lines, the war on children continues in their homes, schools and areas where they play and help their families tend to land," said Rishana Haniffa, Save the Children's country director in Yemen.
Escalating Regional Tensions Threaten Progress
Haniffa warned that escalating wider regional tensions pose a real risk of triggering a broader confrontation in Yemen and the Red Sea, which could undermine hard-won progress in reducing armed violence over the past four years. "Amid escalating wider regional tensions, there is a real risk of triggering a wider confrontation in Yemen and the Red Sea that could undermine hard-won progress to reduce armed violence in the country in the past four years, exposing children to even more harm," she stated.
This concern is heightened by recent actions of Yemen's Houthis, who have launched missile attacks on Israel in coordination with Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The Houthis have warned they are ready to escalate further if Israel continues its strikes across the region, marking a significant escalation in the US-Israel war on Iran. There are fears that the Iran-aligned group could attack shipping in the Red Sea, as it has done before, further disrupting global trade already affected by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following US-Israeli strikes.
The Save the Children report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where children remain vulnerable to violence despite diplomatic efforts. The organization calls for increased mine risk education, support for child survivors, and renewed commitment to peace to protect Yemen's future generations from further harm.
