Save the Children reports that 45 children have been killed or injured by landmines in the past six months.
Rising Toll of Child Casualties from Landmines in Yemen
International Organization Reports Alarming Statistics
The international organization Save the Children has reported that landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed and injured 45 Yemeni children in the first half of 2026. This figure highlights a troubling increase in the threats facing children in war-torn areas contaminated by remnants of conflict. Specifically, 20 children died and 25 others were injured between January and June of this year, surpassing the total number of child fatalities from landmines in all of 2025.
Civilian Impact of Armed Conflict
According to data from the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project (CIMP), part of the NGO Protection Group in Yemen, 18 children lost their lives to landmines and unexploded ordnance in 2025. In total, 123 children suffered fatalities or injuries due to armed violence this year, with 45 of those casualties attributed to landmines and unexploded munitions.
Urgent Call for Action
Inger Ashing, the CEO of Save the Children, emphasized that children in Yemen face a dual threat from explosive remnants of war and child labor. She stated, “No child should risk their life or lose a limb due to the contamination of their living areas with deadly weapons.” Ashing urged the international community not to overlook this escalating tragedy.
Demands for Humanitarian Compliance
The organization has called on all parties involved in the Yemeni conflict to de-escalate tensions and cease the use of explosive weapons. They also urged adherence to international humanitarian law. Additionally, Save the Children requested increased funding from donors for the removal of unexploded ordnance, support for victims, and awareness programs that have diminished due to reduced global aid. They stressed the need for sustainable livelihoods to prevent children from being forced into hazardous work environments.
Recent Incidents Highlight Ongoing Danger
In related news, two children sustained severe injuries, resulting in permanent disabilities for one of them, in the Dhi Na’im district of Al-Bayda province due to a landmine explosion linked to the Houthi militia. Furthermore, the Human Rights Witnesses Organization reported that Mas’ad Ali Jahish, a 50-year-old man, was injured by a landmine while tending to his sheep in the Nehm district of Sana’a. This incident marks the second such occurrence in two weeks, with the injured individual receiving treatment at the Republican Hospital in Sana’a.
Accountability for Landmine Deployment
The Human Rights Witnesses Organization has held the Houthi group accountable for the widespread planting of landmines in the Nehm district. They have called for the release of landmine maps and for national and international teams to be allowed access for survey and clearance operations. The organization stated that leaving landmines in civilian-populated areas without removal or warning constitutes a continuous violation of civilian protection rules under international humanitarian law, threatening the right to life, physical safety, and freedom of movement.
International Pressure Needed
The United Nations and relevant international bodies must pressure the Houthi group to provide landmine maps and ensure safe, unconditional access for demining teams across the Nehm district. They also need to support investigations into landmine incidents and hold those responsible accountable.
The situation in Yemen remains dire, and immediate action is essential to protect vulnerable children from the devastating effects of war.
To follow the news in Arabic
