Forty days of intensified violence by the Houthi militia in Yemen have left a devastating civilian toll — killing and injuring children and forcing tens of thousands from their homes.

Humanitarian reports confirm that 19 children were killed and 49 injured, while 323 civilians were killed or wounded during the same period. The scale of civilian harm and displacement underscores grave breaches of international humanitarian law and highlights the urgent obligation to protect civilians, particularly children, in armed conflict.

Background

According to humanitarian reports, airstrikes, shelling, and drone attacks carried out by the Houthi militia accounted for more than 80 percent of recorded child casualties during the 40-day period.

The violence displaced 93,864 people, with the largest numbers concentrated in Taiz and Lahj. New displacement was also recorded in Hodeidah, Aden, and Abyan. More than 2,000 people reportedly fled Yemen by sea to Djibouti. Many displaced families arrived without adequate shelter, water, food, or access to healthcare.

The new displacement comes amid an existing humanitarian crisis in which 22.3 million people, including 12.2 million children, require humanitarian assistance and protection. The additional displacement has placed further pressure on host communities and displacement sites already facing shortages of essential services and humanitarian funding.

Institutional Position

International humanitarian law requires all parties to distinguish between civilians and persons directly participating in hostilities and prohibits attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects. Reports of attacks affecting populated areas, including neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and displacement sites, therefore warrant independent investigation to determine whether the applicable rules of distinction, proportionality, and precautions were respected.

The scale of child casualties and displacement also underscores the need for effective measures to protect civilians from the effects of hostilities. Humanitarian access must remain safe and unhindered so that displaced families can obtain essential assistance.

Applicable Legal Framework

Under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and other applicable rules of international humanitarian law, civilians and persons no longer taking part in hostilities must be protected from violence and treated humanely. The principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in attack govern the conduct of hostilities and require parties to take feasible measures to minimize civilian harm. Children receive additional protection under international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Demands Aligned with International Human Rights Principles

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC)
Geneva, Switzerland – September 15, 2026