20 Jan 2018 | 03:48 PM UTC
Yemen: At least 450 civilians killed in December 2017
At least 450 civilians killed by armed groups in Yemen in December 2017; humanitarian situation expected to further deteriorate in the coming weeks and months
Event
At least 450 Yemeni civilians were killed by armed groups in Yemen in December 2017. On January 17, SAM Organization for Rights and Liberties, a Geneva-based human rights organization, reported that 279 such deaths were attributable to Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, and that 121 others were killed by Houthi fighters.
SAM also recorded 1937 related human rights violations perpetrated throughout the month by the Saudi-led coalition, the Houthis, militant groups, and forces allied with the Hadi-led government, including incidents of assault, torture, arbitrary detention, and press freedom violations. The humanitarian situation in Yemen is expected to further deteriorate in the coming weeks and months.
Context
Yemen has been engaged in a complex and deadly conflict since Houthi rebels started fighting the international coalition-backed government in 2015. In total, over 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and around 3 million have been displaced. The war has also sparked a cholera outbreak, which has affected around 1 million people to date. Approximately 20.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and the crisis has placed an overwhelming strain on the country's struggling health system. Major health facilities have been destroyed in the conflict and aid deliveries are often blocked by rebels, stolen, or destroyed. Yemen is also affected by widespread famine. Approximately 18 million people - two-thirds of the population of Yemen - are food insecure, according to the World Food Program. Human rights organization CARE reports that over two-thirds of the population is without regular access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Advice
The security environment in Yemen remains complex. Due to poor security conditions, many Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.
