Saudi War in Yemen Starving Huge Numbers of Children

320,000 Children Face Severe Malnutrition

A new report from UNICEF marking the one-year anniversary of the Saudi war against Yemen details the massive toll the war, and the ongoing naval blockade of Yemen, is inflicting on Yemeni children.

The report estimates some 320,000 children are facing severe, life-threatening malnutrition, and that 82% of the Yemeni population is now reliant on humanitarian. Before the war, Yemen imported approximately 90% of its food.

Though the Saudi-led naval blockade, which the US has participated in, was intended to stop weapons shipments, the protracted delays for all delivery ships has shipping companies avoiding accepting Yemen-bound cargo.

The UN eventually increased humanitarian aid to Yemen after the war began, however the Saudis have ensured that those shipments are predominantly to Saudi-held territory, with the Shi’ite regions receiving little support.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.