YEMEN: At least four children killed in artillery shelling in the city of Hodeida
At least 11 civilians including 4 children were killed yesterday, 29 November, after artillery shells hit houses in the south of Hodeida city in Yemen.
The deadly attack comes just two weeks before the second anniversary of the Stockholm agreement that was meant to put an end to the violence in the cities of Hodeida and Taiz, which have been the hardest hit by the war.
Despite the ceasefire agreed for the port city, Hodeida is witnessing the highest level of direct civilian impact of any governorate. In just the first nine months of this year the governorate of Hodeida saw 620 civilian casualties[i].
Xavier Joubert, Save the Children’s Yemen Country Director, said:
“It’s appalling to witness more and more children losing their lives in their own houses, where they are supposed to feel safe, play and study. Today’s attack comes just two weeks before the second anniversary of Stockholm agreement which seemed to be a political breakthrough in the peace process. Yesterday’s loss of four children proves that no progress has been made in the effort for sustainable peace.
“World leaders owe Yemeni children an apology. All parties to the conflict, including international powers fueling this crisis, must do everything possible in order to ensure that children and their families are protected. There is no other way but to respect the ceasefire and return to the negotiating table.”
Denisa Delic, Head of UK Influencing, Save the Children, said:
“The port city of Hodeida was at the heart of the 2018 Stockholm Agreement and will be key to averting famine, yet two years later children are still dying, and the port is still not operational. The UK must do more. Save the Children calls on the UK Government to use all its diplomatic power, both at the UN Security Council and directly to the warring parties, to show that the international community is united in its demand for this brutal war to end.”
