Unprecedented Surge in Child Casualties in Yemen in 2025
Save the Children has revealed that 349 children were killed or injured in Yemen during 2025, marking a sharp 70% increase compared to 2024—an alarming indicator of the deteriorating situation for children amid the ongoing conflict.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organization said that the past year saw child casualties at an average rate of one child per day, either killed or wounded, noting that the number of fatalities nearly doubled compared to the previous year.
According to the statement, 103 children were killed and 246 others injured in 2025, compared with 44 killed and 161 injured in 2024.
Airstrikes Top the Causes
Save the Children pointed out that airstrikes were the primary driver behind the significant rise in casualties, causing the death or injury of at least 155 children over the year.
It added that in September alone, out of 427 civilians killed or injured by airstrikes carried out by the Israeli military, at least 103 were children. The organization did not provide precise figures on the number of children affected by U.S. and British airstrikes that targeted various areas of Yemen during the same period.
Among the deadliest attacks was an airstrike that hit residential homes near a school, killing or injuring 216 people, including 67 children—the highest number of casualties in a single incident during the year.
Warning of a Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Save the Children warned that the recent escalation of the conflict, particularly in southern Yemen, threatens to further exacerbate the suffering of the most vulnerable civilians and deepen the humanitarian crisis the country has endured for years.
The organization stressed that severe shortages in funding for healthcare services, rehabilitation, and psychosocial support are depriving large numbers of children of the assistance they need to recover from the effects of violence.
Accusations of International Inaction
Anya Cowley, Advocacy Director for Save the Children in Yemen, said the figures are a stark reminder of the deadly and growing impact of war on children.
She added that the level of violence inflicted on children has extended beyond the battlefield to reach their homes, schools, and even health facilities.
Cowley attributed the sharp rise in casualties to the failure of the international community to hold governments and armed groups accountable for attacks targeting civilians, stressing that “ignoring these ongoing violations is no longer acceptable.”
Urgent Calls for Protection and Funding
The organization urged all parties to the conflict to de-escalate, halt the use of explosive weapons, and strictly adhere to international humanitarian law to protect civilians, especially children.
It also called on donors to restore and increase funding for victim assistance and explosive risk education programs that have been scaled back due to funding cuts, emphasizing that these programs are lifesaving and represent a vital lifeline for thousands of children in Yemen.
