The United Nations has found that the Saudi-led war on Yemen has been responsible for the deaths of a staggering 233,000 people, almost 1% of Yemen’s entire population and a number far higher than previously thought.
The new study by the United Nations Department of Arab States is the culmination of a year of research and was commissioned by the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures, the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and the University of Denver.
Findings from the study include significant rises in the number of civilians killed through the side effects of war, with 131,000 having perished from starvation, thirst or disease since 2015. One child is currently dying in Yemen every 11 minutes and 54 seconds.
Seeking to find and predict the future outcome of the war should it proceed at the current level of violence, the study has revealed that by 2030 the death toll will have reached 1.8 million with 84% of Yemenis suffering from malnutrition and 71% living in extreme poverty.
While the British government officially claims that it has no direct involvement in the war in Yemen, the evidence speaks to the contrary with at least five members of the Special Boat Service injured following direct confrontations with Houthi rebels and the revelation that British forces are maintaining the Saudi aircraft involved in the bombing campaign on Yemen, aircraft that were sold to the Gulf State by Britain. The British government has also sanctioned the sale of £4.3 billion worth of weapons and equipment to Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the conflict in 2015. These sales include the Typhoon fighter, missiles, components and the expertise to maintain these arms. It is said that without British support, the war in Yemen could not continue.
The study, Impact of War on Development in Yemen, can be accessed via the United Nations Department of Arab States website.
Advertisement