News Center — Landmines spread across vast areas of Yemen pose a direct threat to children's lives, causing serious injuries and permanent disabilities, and limiting their ability to access vital facilities, despite calls to strengthen efforts for their removal.

The International Child Care Organization documented a notable rise in the number of landmine and war remnant victims among children in Yemen during the first half of 2026, confirming 45 children fell as casualties—20 killed and 25 injured—in an indicator reflecting escalating risks in conflict-affected areas.

The organization stated in a release that the casualty toll during the first six months of this year recorded a 61% increase compared to the same period in 2025, which saw the killing of 28 children. It affirmed that the continued spread of landmines and unexploded ordnance requires urgent action to strengthen removal and awareness efforts, especially in areas witnessing active conflict.

It also clarified that various armed violence incidents resulted in the killing of 123 children during the same period—53 killed and 70 injured—noting that landmines and war remnants are among the most prominent causes of the rising casualty numbers, and that children face multiplied risks due to weak awareness of the danger of these materials and their proximity to contaminated areas.

The organization called on all parties to the ongoing conflict in Yemen to de-escalate and comply with international humanitarian law, urging donors to increase funding allocated to demining programs, victim support, and expanding awareness campaigns, in addition to providing sustainable income sources for families to reduce children's exposure to risks.

Human rights reports indicate that the Houthis are responsible for planting millions of landmines and explosive devices in vast areas of Yemen during the war years, leading to the deaths of large numbers of civilians, including women and children. These landmines continue to pose a persistent threat to residents' lives, especially in rural areas and roads near front lines, amid calls to intensify clearance operations and hold those involved in planting them accountable.