What You Need to Know
• Um Yousef, a single mother of four, moved to a home near the front line in Taiz, Yemen.
• In January 2025, Um Yousef’s 11-year-old son was shot while playing outside their home.
• A United Nations project reported that 66 percent of civilian sniper casualties in Yemen occurred in Taiz last year.
Um Yousef, a single mother of four children, moved to a home near the front line in Taiz, Yemen, due to financial constraints. The typical market rate for housing in the area is about $130 for a three-bedroom house, which she could not afford. After relocating in January 2025, her 11-year-old son was shot while playing outside their home just two months later. The United Nations monitoring project found that 66 percent of all civilian casualties from sniper shootings in Yemen last year occurred in Taiz, with nine of the 21 recorded cases being children. Fortunately, her son’s injuries were not life-threatening, and he was treated and discharged from the hospital the following day.
Why It Matters
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has created a dire humanitarian situation, particularly in urban areas like Taiz, which is situated between Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels. The city’s geography makes it particularly vulnerable to sniper fire, resulting in a high percentage of civilian casualties. The war has significantly increased poverty levels, forcing families like Um Yousef’s to make dangerous living choices. Understanding the impact of the conflict on civilians is crucial for addressing the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Read the Full Story →
