EXCERPT FROM BACKGROUND:

“Children are among the most vulnerable in Yemen and have been disproportionally affected by the escalation of conflict since Houthi-led forces took over the capital Sana’a in September 2014. Since then, the situation has deteriorated and all six grave violations have been committed against children during armed conflict in Yemen: recruitment or use of children; killing or maiming of children; sexual violence against children; attacks against schools or hospitals; abduction of children; and denial of humanitarian access. In 2015, the impact of armed conflict on children worsened to a significant degree and continued in 2016. Heavy aerial bombardments and ground operations since the end of March 2015 have dramatically increased the number of child casualties in Yemen.3 The UN Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism verified 1,309 cases of child death as a result of the conflict between January 2015 and September 2016, in addition to 1,950 cases of child injury.  In the first quarter of 2016, child deaths and injuries increased by 19 per cent compared to the last quarter of 2015. In 2015, the UN verified a six-fold increase in the number of children killed and maimed compared with 2014, totalling 1,953 child casualties. UNICEF estimated in 2015 that, on average, eight children were killed or maimed every day in Yemen as a direct result of the hostilities. The significant increase in child casualties was the result of coalition airstrikes, with the majority of child deaths and injuries (73 per cent) attributed to the coalition. Houthi-Saleh forces were responsible for 18 per cent of child deaths and 17 per cent of child injuries.  Incidents of children and infants sustaining devastating burns from aerial bombing have also been reported. Notably, coalition airstrikes continued through 2016 and into 2017, resulting in large civilian casualties. In Yemen, nearly all parties to the conflict are reported to have engaged in widespread child recruitment. Children continue to be recruited and used by armed forces, pro-government popular committees and Al- Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Sexual violence against children has been verified but is underreported, with only one case verified by the UN against a child by a member of an armed group in 2015. More than two million people have been displaced, including children. An estimated 9.6 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, 462,000 children are facing Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), and over two million children are out of school due to fighting and insecurity. Child rights violations have increased dramatically and children are facing significant psychological stress as a result. Humanitarian access has been restricted by all parties, with devastating impacts on children.”