UN Says an Average of 123 Civilian Casualties in Yemen Per Week

Urges both sides to do more to protect civilians

Jason Ditz 

Posted onDecember 7, 2018CategoriesNewsTagsSaudi Arabia, UN, Yemen

According to the UN refugee agency, some 1,500 civilian casualties were inflicted in Yemen from August through October. Broken down, the agency says this is an average of 123 casualties per week.

This large number of casualties is unsurprising, as throughout that period the Saudi-backed invasion forces have been attacking heavily populated areas, and Saudi airstrikes kill civilians several times a week.

Civilian casualties are an ongoing problem throughout the war in Yemen, and the UN’s report came with a call for both sides to “do more” to protect civilians during the fighting. That they named both sides was likely necessary to prevent the Saudis from reacting furiously.

And yet anyone who has been paying attention at all would not fail to note that the Saudis and their allies are inflicting the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties. Civilian casualties from attacks themselves are also dwarfed by the number of civilians starved to death or otherwise killed by the Saudi naval blockade, which is distinct from the UN figure.

https://news.antiwar.com/2018/12/07/un-says-an-average-of-123-civilian-casualties-in-yemen-per-week/