CIMP Monthly Report - February 2023

Despite overall decrease in casualties, civilian fatalities increased in February
161 civilian casualties were reported in February 2023, down by a third from 237 in January. However, the number of fatalities among the casualties increased, from 44 to 47; 1 in 3 of the February casualties were fatalities, while in January, 1 in 5 were fatalities. The number of child casualties was largely unchanged, falling just slightly from 33 in January to 31 in February, and the number of women casualties increased, from 11 to 15. Light weapons fire, explosive remnants of warfare and shellfire were all responsible for roughly equal numbers of civilian casualties, accounting for 45, 44 and 43 respectively.

Sa’dah border violence drives highest civilian casualties in the country
Half of the month’s casualties were reported in the border districts in western Sa’dah, where border violence in the form of shellfire and machine gun fire is ongoing. February also saw the introduction of reports of drone strikes on the western border, for the first time since late 2018. Light weapons fire was responsible for 43 civilian casualties along the border, the majority of whom (32) were reported in Monabbih district, where Ar Raqw area remains a key flashpoint, likely due to its propensity to be used as an informal border crossing area. Artillery fire, meanwhile was responsible for 37 civilian casualties, the majority of whom (31) were reported in Shada’a district. Although high, these mark a decrease from the January casualty numbers, when shelling and light weapons fire were responsible for 65 and 60 civilian casualties respectively. Drone activity was responsible for two civilian casualties; it remains unclear as to whether this will pick up in the coming weeks, but is indicative of a new capability among armed groups in the border areas.

Explosive remnants of warfare responsible for 44 civilian casualties
Hudaydah continues to see the highest civilian casualty numbers, accounting for almost half of the civilian landmine and UXO casualties in February, at 19. The remaining 25 casualties were distributed across current and former frontline areas across the country. For the first time since mid-2021, a landmine incident was reported in Ibb. In the incident to see the highest civilian casualty count in June, two children were killed and four women were injured when a landmine exploded in Al-Humayra in As Sayyani district, where they have been tending to livestock. In another landmine incident to see high casualty numbers, on 3 February, four migrants, including a woman, were injured when a landmine exploded in Al-Yatmah area in Khabb wa ash Shaaf district, in Jawf; the area is a former frontline area which still sees occasional surges in activity; the informal desert routes in Jawf, especially around Al-Yatmah, see regular reports of landmine incidents, particularly along those connecting battle fronts. In the UXO incident to see the highest civilian casualties, on 2 February, four civilians, including three children and a woman, were injured when remnant ordnance exploded in Al-Kabayn area in Al-Qabbaytah district, a frontline district in northern Lahij.

Almost half of the ERW casualties in February were children
Of the 44 civilian ERW casualties reported in Yemen in February 2023, 19 were children. Although the overall ERW casualty count dropped from 49 in January, the number of child ERW casualties increased from 17 in January. More than half of the child ERW casualties were reported in Hudaydah. Children remain particularly vulnerable to UXO incidents, due to a combination of greater mobility, greater inquisitiveness, and lower threat awareness, making them more likely to encounter and subsequently tamper with any unfamiliar devices found. Similar challenges regarding limited threat awareness may be faced by women, particularly in rural areas, where women and children may face fewer opportunities for exposure to awareness-raising material regarding the ERW threat. Migrant communities, meanwhile, who may be less familiar with the threat landscape or may also face barriers to accessing awareness-raising activities, are also particularly vulnerable to the threat.

Uptick in reports of artillery fire impacting farmland in frontline areas
Shellfire was responsible for 43 civilian casualties in February 2023, 37 of whom were in Sa’dah, including one civilian who was killed and another two who were injured when farmland was hit by shellfire in Shada’a district. In other parts of the country, despite not seeing any resultant civilian casualties, there were further reports of artillery fire hitting farmland, putting livelihoods and means of food production at risk. In southern Hudaydah, there were three reported instances of farms and nearby houses being impacted by shellfire, including in Al-Garrahi, At Tuhayat and Hays. Farmland was also impacted in the northwest of Ad Dhale, and in Ad Dahi village in the Krish frontline area in northern Lahij, near the border with Ta’izz. February saw the highest number of reports of farmland being impacted since before the countrywide truce entered into force in April 2022. As shellfire persists in frontline areas, the risk to nearby farmland will continue.

For more detailed or area-specific assessments, please reach out to the CIMP team via the address below.