Five Years of Data on Saudi-led Air War
25 March 2020
On 26 March 2015, Saudi Arabia along with a coalition of nations including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Senegal, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar (until they left the coalition in 2017), launched a bombing campaign in Yemen. The coalition is also supported by the United States, the United Kingdom and France. 26 March 2020 marks five years of the Saudi-led coalition air war in Yemen. Data collected by the Yemen Data Project released today reveal the impact of five years of the bombing campaign.
5 Years of Saudi-led Air War Kills and Injures More Than 18,400 Civilians
Yemen Data Project figures show more than 18,400 civilians were killed and injured in at least 20,624 air raids* in the Saudi-led coalition's five-year air war. A quarter (25%) of the 8,672 civilians killed in air raids were women and children.
With an average of 11 Saudi coalition air raids per day over the five years of the bombing campaign, there were on average 10 civilian casualties per day, including an average of 5 civilians dying in bombings daily.
During the five years, medical facilities including hospitals and clinics were bombed 83 times, killing 95 civilians and injuring a further 116. At least 272 civilians were killed and 212 injured in 281 air raids on schools and universities, 32 children were amongst the school and university casualties. 10% of all air raids hit residential areas resulting in 40% of all civilian casualties. Civilian vehicles and buses were hit 341 times, killing 867 civilians and injuring 502. Water and electrcity sites were hit 134 times.
March 2015 - March 2020
Total civilian casualties: 18,413 - including 3,676 women and children
Total civilians killed: 8,672 - including 820 women and 1,368 children
Total civilians injured: 9,741 - including 575 women and 913 children
All figures are from 26 March 2015 to 10 March 2020
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34% of all air raids hit military sites, 31% hit non-military** civilian sites. In 35% of air raids the target could not be indentified.
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In the 31% of air raids that hit non-military civilian targets
- 2,068 hit residential areas, killing 3,418 civilians, injuring 3,994.
- 341 hit civilian vehicles and buses, killing 867 civilians, injuring 502 with 108 children amongst the dead.
- 281 hit schools and universities, killing 272 civilians, injuring 212 with 32 children amongst the casualties.
- 217 hit market places, killing 847 civilians, injuring 519.
- 83 hit medical facilities, killing 95 civilians, injuring 116.
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FOR MORE DETAILS AND COMMENT PLEASE CONTACT:
Iona Craig (Yemen) +967 736693365 iona.craig@yemendataproject.org
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The northern border governorate of Sa'ada has been the most heavily bombed in Yemen during the five years. Almost a quarter (24%) of all air raids hit the governorate with the highest number of civilian casualties at 3,499.
2,659 air raids hit Taiz, making it the second most heavily targeted governorate. Sana'a (outside the capital city) saw the second highest number of civilian casualties at 2,931 from 2,459 air raids.
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*Air raid refers to a single incident. One air raid incident includes all air strikes on a single location within approximately one hour and therefore may comprise multiple airstrikes. Airstrikes per air raid can vary greatly from a couple to several dozen. The true number of individual airstrikes ranges from the minimum of 20,624 to a maximum number of airstrikes of 58,487 since March 2015.
** Non-military targeting may be an indication of fighting taking place in urban areas resulting in the possible change of use of buildings and/or escalated targeting of civilian sites. The dataset lists target category and subcategory for each incident, where information on the target is available. When listing permanent structures the target category refers to the original use of the target e.g. a school hit by an air raid is referred to as a school building with no further assessment made on its use at the time of the air raid, or any possible change of use over the course of the conflict.
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Who we are
The Yemen Data Project is an independent, not-for-profit data collection project. The project and all activities are independently funded to avoid any partisan affiliation.
The Yemen Data Project was established in response to the general lack of transparency from the parties to the conflict, as well as a lack of independent reporting on the ground. Saudi coalition members include the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Senegal, Kuwait and Bahrain. The coalition is also supported by the United States and the United Kingdom.
Methodology
The data is collected through open sources and cross-referenced using a wide range of information. These sources include local and international news agencies and media reports; social media accounts, including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other video footage, and WhatsApp; reports from international and national NGOs; official records from local authorities; and reports by human rights groups. Where independent reporting is not available, the data has been cross referenced with sources from opposing sides in the conflict to ensure the reporting is as accurate and impartial as possible.
The data presented is verified and cross-referenced to the extent possible. It is important to note, however, that due to the context of the current situation in Yemen there are significant challenges in accessing independent sources for verification of incidents. The data presents our best current understanding of the incidents included and are reported in good faith.
For more on YDP's methodology please visit our website.
The Yemen Data Project's dataset is licenced under creative commons. You are therefore free to reuse the data but we ask that you please cite the Yemen Data Project and link back to the dataset.
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FOR MORE DETAILS AND COMMENT PLEASE CONTACT:
Iona Craig (Yemen) +967 736693365 iona.craig@yemendataproject.org
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