Yemen: Attack could put 170,000 children in the line of fire

An estimated 340,000 people in Hodeida, half of them children, could be forcibly displaced should the Saudi-led Coalition (SLC) and anti-Houthi forces try to retake the vital port city, says Save the Children.

According to the charity, this major escalation in violence puts 170,000 children at risk of death or injury and could cause the biggest single displacement of people since 2015, pushing Yemen towards a full-blown and entirely man-made famine. Hodeida is a densely populated city and any attack will almost certainly result in a huge loss of civilian life.

Hodeida’s children are already some of the hardest hit by the conflict. In the three districts that make up Hodeida city more than 14,000 children are projected to suffer from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition this year. In the event of an attack on the port and subsequent increase in displacement and decrease in food imports, the number of children dying of hunger-related causes is likely to rise.

Tamer Kirolos, Yemen Country Director, Save the Children, told Charity Today:

“There’s no respite for the children of Yemen. If they aren’t being killed or maimed by bombs and shelling, then extreme hunger or diseases like cholera and diphtheria are a constant threat. A major escalation in fighting in Hodeida to try and take the city and port will likely kill the prospect of any peace talks in the short-term and condemn the children of Yemen to yet more misery.”

“The international community must bring its influence to bear to help prevent any further escalation of this conflict. These children trapped in Hodeida have nowhere to run or hide from the bombs that might fall on their homes and schools. We know from experience and evidence that when bombs are dropped in populated areas the vast majority of casualties are civilians, with children the most vulnerable. They will pay the heaviest price for this assault on their city and all the parties to this conflict will be to blame.”

Imminent assault on #Hodeidah described as ‘#Yemen ’s Aleppo’, 170,000 children face starvation, disease and horrific violence. https://t.co/oPsoD3E4yQ pic.twitter.com/mdJbh2onUm

— SavetheChildren News (@SaveUKNews) June 11, 2018

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