Over Two Thousand Yemeni Children Killed by Landmines in Five Years
On a day meant to celebrate children and their rights, the “Mewon” Human Rights Organization revealed alarming figures that reflect the scale of the tragedy facing Yemeni children. The organization documented the deaths of 2,016 children due to landmine explosions in residential areas, grazing lands, and farms between 2020 and 2025, according to a report reviewed by “Atfal Platform.”
The organization stressed that World Children’s Day (20 November) this year serves as a stark reminder of the devastating reality endured by children in Yemen, who continue to suffer under one of the world’s worst humanitarian and human rights crises.
According to UN reports, the Houthi group has planted an estimated two million landmines in areas under its control, resulting in the killing and injury of more than 20,000 civilians, including a large proportion of women and children.
Despite the de-escalation and absence of large-scale military operations since April 2022, “Mewon” says it continues to monitor multiple patterns of deliberate targeting of children, in clear violation of international law. This comes alongside the persistent and unprecedented rise in the recruitment of children into armed conflict.
The report recorded the deaths of 146 child soldiers on the frontlines between January and October 2025—all of whom were recruited by the Houthi group—in a grave violation that endangers children’s lives and futures.
The organization also accused the Houthi group of depriving parents of their right to guide their children morally and educationally, and of enrolling children in informal programs promoting sectarian indoctrination, a practice that has raised widespread concern among families.
At the humanitarian level, Yemen’s food security situation continues to deteriorate sharply. The country now ranks third globally in food insecurity, with 18.1 million people facing high levels of hunger and malnutrition—posing severe risks to children’s health.
In the education sector, the report revealed that 3.7 million school-aged children are deprived of their fundamental right to education. The organization also documented the use of 852 schools for sectarian indoctrination and the recruitment of children in Houthi-controlled areas—threatening the future of an entire generation.
On the other hand, “Mewon” welcomed the launch of the National Child Protection Plan 2026–2029 by the internationally recognized Yemeni government, in partnership with UNICEF, under the slogan “A Childhood Without Protection… A Future Without Safety,” considering it a vital step toward improving the situation of children.
The organization stressed that all documented violations against children constitute flagrant breaches of international agreements, particularly the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“Mewon” called on all parties to the conflict, especially the Houthi group, to immediately cease all violations, end child recruitment, comply with international humanitarian and human rights law, stop using schools and public facilities for sectarian indoctrination, release all recruited children, and adopt programs for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
