Civilian toll spiking in Yemen, NGO warns

Child casualties are increasing in Yemen as fighting flares in Hodeidah and Taiz, aid groups have warned

Credit: AFP

Civilian casualties in Yemen’s war have increased to their highest level in over a year, aid agencies have warned ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit focused “on protecting lives” to be hosted by neighbouring Saudi Arabia this weekend .

Save the Children said Tuesday that 29 children were killed or injured in Yemen’s flashpoint cities of Hodeidah and Taiz amid renewed fighting in October, while 228 civilian casualties were recorded countrywide, the highest toll since last September. 

“The violence is leaving children and their families caught between shells, bombs and bullets in daily attacks against civilians,” the NGO said in a statement.

Renewed fighting in the port city of Hodeidah is particularly concerning, Save the Children said, as it is the gateway for 70 percent of Yemen’s imports. 

Sana'a's graveyards have filled with victims of the ongoing civil war

Credit: Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images

“Even a temporary closure decreases the availability of food to vulnerable families, at a moment when the country is on the brink of famine,” it said.

Last Wednesday, the United Nations warned that the escalating conflict and a reduction in humanitarian access has brought the country to the brink of famine.

“We’re on a countdown right now to a catastrophe in Yemen,” the head of the World Food Programme David Beasley told the Security Council.  

“If we choose to look away, there’s no doubt in my mind Yemen will be plunged into a devastating famine within a few short months,” he said.

With attention on the G20 summit, aid groups are calling for renewed efforts towards a peace deal.

“Now more than ever is the time to agree and implement a nationwide ceasefire as a step towards a sustainable peace,” said Xavier Joubert, Save the Children’s Yemen country director. “As G20 leaders look at solutions to protect lives around the world, they must call on parties to the conflict to go back to the negotiating table.”

This virtual summit on November 21- 22 will be chaired by Saudi’s King Salman and “will focus on protecting lives and restoring growth,” according to a release by the G20 Saudi Secretariat. 

Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen’s government against Houthi rebels. Both sides in the conflict have been accused of war crimes.