Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, has been in conflict since 2014 between the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and government troops backed by a Saudi-led military alliance.
More than eleven thousand children have been killed, maimed or injured since 2015 in Yemen, while another nearly four thousand have been recruited into the conflict that has ravaged the country for more than eight years, according to data released today by the United Nations.
Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, has been wracked by conflict since 2014 pitting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels against government troops backed by a Saudi-led military alliance.
Among the 11,019 young victims, 3,774 were killed, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The previous report by this UN agency spoke of more than 10,200 dead, injured or maimed children.
The new figures, covering the period from March 2015 to 30 September 2022, only include cases verified by UNICEF. The real toll is “probably much higher,” he points out.
During the period under study, 3,995 children were recruited, 3,904 boys to take part in combat and 91 girls to be posted at checkpoints or participate in certain activities.
In addition, “hundreds of thousands (of children) are at risk of dying from preventable diseases or from starvation,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s director-general, in a UNICEF statement, repeating her call for funds to be raised to provide humanitarian aid. aid to Yemen.
“For the children of Yemen to have the slightest chance of living a dignified future, the warring parties, the international community and all those with influence must guarantee that they will be protected and supported,” he adds.
UNICEF notes that it “urgently needs” 484.4 million dollars (460 million euros) to contribute to the response to the humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimated in a November 2021 report that, by the end of last year, the death toll would approach 377,000 dead, due to hostilities and their consequences: hunger, diseases, the lack of drinking water…
The ceasefire that came into effect in April and was renewed twice expired in early October after the internationally recognized government and the Ansar Allah group (the Houthis) were unable to reach an agreement to extend it.
Two months after the end of the truce, the fighting has not escalated again, but a series of Houthi attacks on oil terminals have raised fears of a new escalation.
According to UNICEF, at least 62 children died in October and November.
“Urgent renewal of the ceasefire would be a positive first step to allow much-needed humanitarian access,” Ms Russell said.
RES-EMP
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