Yemeni organizations warn of Houthi recruitment of child soldiers

Civil society organizations in Yemen have warned of escalating violations they say are being committed by Houthi militias against civilians, with particular concern over the recruitment of children and their deployment to frontlines, as well as the exploitation of African migrants. The groups also cited attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure, and threats to navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

In a joint statement carried by the Yemeni News Agency SABA, the organizations said the alleged violations include killings, abductions, arbitrary detention, forced displacement, house demolitions, road blockades, targeting of civilian vehicles, sniping, and shelling of neighborhoods and villages. Hospitals, health and educational facilities, and other civilian sites have also been targeted, the statement said, warning that continued escalation has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the country.

The statement reported cases of children being recruited following the latest Houthi offensive on the coast and increased military operations, with some subsequently captured on frontlines in Taiz, the western coast, Marib, and Al-Jawf. The organizations said they are working with relevant Yemeni government agencies to monitor and document these cases, and to coordinate care for the children who have been detained.

The statement also detailed an incident in which a gathering and shelter for displaced people in Ragwan district, Marib province, was struck by a ballistic missile on September 7. Citing local authorities and the Executive Unit for IDP Camps Management, the organizations said the initial toll was two children, aged five and seven, killed and 15 civilians wounded, including eight children, along with damage to 16 homes and three civilian vehicles.

The organizations also referenced local reports of shelling on populated villages in Taiz province with medium and heavy weapons, and the targeting of 2 December Hospital in Mokha city with a ballistic missile on September 7. They stressed that the civilian and medical nature of these sites grants them protection under international humanitarian law.

On displacement, the statement quoted the Executive Unit for IDP Camps Management as recording the displacement of 2,183 families from Taiz and Hodeidah provinces as of September 5, including 1,643 families (8,896 people) and 450 families in Hodeidah. The displaced families face urgent needs for shelter, food, water, healthcare, and protection.

The warnings extended beyond Yemen's borders, with the organizations noting that Houthi attacks and threats have affected international shipping and maritime routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They cautioned that the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab risk becoming a permanent conflict zone, and warned against any external funding, arming, or support that could strengthen Houthi military capabilities.

The organizations also voiced concern over the exploitation of African migrants in Yemen, stating that the Houthis have recruited some and sent them to fight, describing this as a violation of their rights and dignity. They called on international migration agencies to protect migrants from recruitment, exploitation, trafficking, and violence.

The organizations urged the United Nations and Security Council to take concrete steps to protect civilians, stop child recruitment and migrant exploitation, and address threats to international navigation. They also called for stronger accountability mechanisms and support for the National Committee to Investigate Alleged Human Rights Violations to preserve evidence and ensure justice for victims.

The organizations further appealed to international agencies focused on children and migration to enhance protection for children and migrants, verify cases of recruitment and exploitation, and support demobilization, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs. They also called on the international community and countries concerned with Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab security to take legal and diplomatic measures to protect navigation, deter attacks, and investigate funding and arms networks enabling the Houthis to continue these practices, according to the statement.