Yemen Crisis: 85,000 Children Under Five ‘Dead From Starvation’

An estimated 85,000 children under the age of five have starved to death since the outbreak of the Yemen civil war in 2015, according to Save the Children. The charity says the “conservative” estimate is based on average mortality rates for untreated cases of severe acute malnutrition in young children, using data compiled by the United Nations (UN). A total of up to 14 million people are feared to be at risk of famine as a result of the war. “For every child killed by bombs and bullets, dozens are starving to death and it’s entirely preventable,” said Tamer Kirolos, Save the Children’s country director in Yemen. “Children who die in this way suffer immensely as their vital organ functions slow down and eventually stop.” According to the UN, an additional 400,000 acutely malnourished children are fighting for their lives as the crisis continues to escalate.