The UN report shows that over 7,500 children have been killed or wounded in the past five and a half years as a direct result of the fighting in Yemen. It is yet more evidence that children are paying the heaviest price for this brutal crisis. Since the Stockholm agreement on 13 December 2018, according to the UN, eight children have been killed or injured in Yemen every day. This has to stop.
Many children have witnessed haunting acts of violence and the destruction of their communities and homes. Children have told us that they would like to go back home and resume their normal life as they miss their daily activities and their friends. Save the Children is also concerned about the psychological impact the violence is having on their children. Research shows an increased likelihood of long-term mental health implications for children, especially if left untreated. Beyond the bombs, threats of hunger and disease are deadly and rampant.
Save the Children calls on international governments to pressure the warring parties to stop the fighting and spare the lives of Yemeni children who are trapped in this vicious war. To deter those responsible from continuing attacks against civilians, including children, and civilian infrastructure, they must be accountable to their obligations under international laws.