18 April 2019: More than 10,000 people have been reported killed in Yemen over the last five months, bringing the war’s total death toll to over 70,000 since 2016 according to data collated by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). While overall reported fatalities have trended downward this year amidst the UN-backed peace process, lethal fighting continues across the country and has even intensified in key governorates like Taiz and Hajjah.

Total conflict fatalities:

ACLED records over 70,200 total reported fatalities1 from 1 January 2016 to 13 April 2019 More than 7,600 have been reported so far in 2019:

Approximately 2,350 in January; 1,930 in February; 2,330 in March; and 1,000 so far in April Fatality rates have shifted significantly across multiple governorates between the last quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019:

Reported fatalities increased most dramatically in Al Jawf and in Hajjah, though also in Taiz, Sadah, and Ad Dali

They dropped most significantly in Hodeidah, though also in Marib, Sana’a, and Al Bayda Civilian fatalities:

ACLED records 3,155 direct attacks targeting civilians resulting in over 7,000 reported civilian fatalities2 since 2016

The Saudi-led coalition and its allies are responsible for the highest number of reported civilian fatalities from direct targeting: over 4,800 since 2016

The Houthis and their allies are responsible for over 1,300 reported civilian fatalities from direct targeting

Notably, so far in quarter one of 2019, reported civilian fatalities are at their lowest point since the third quarter of 2017

Still, nearly 380 civilian fatalities have been reported this year stemming from direct targeting

Flashpoints (spotlight on three governorates):

Hodeidah

Reported fatalities continue to decline dramatically in Hodeidah: Reported combat fatalities dropped 89% from the last quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2019 thus far (from nearly 2,500 reported fatalities to fewer than 300) Reported civilian fatalities dropped from nearly 250 to approximately 100

Taiz

Deadly fighting has spiked in Taiz: Reported combat fatalities have risen from approximately 850 in the last quarter of 2018 to over 1,000 in the first quarter of 2019, a more than 20% rise

Reported fatalities from civilian targeting have risen from approximately 40 to over 60 in the same period

Hajjah

In Hajjah, violence is reaching record highs: Over 1,100 combat fatalities have been reported in the first quarter of 2019 — the highest numbers ACLED has recorded in Hajjah since the start of 2016 Over 80 fatalities from direct civilian targeting have been reported in the same quarter — the second-highest number of reported civilian fatalities recorded for the governorate A US-based 501c3 established in 2014, ACLED is the highest quality, most widely used, real-time data and analysis source on political violence and protest around the world.

For an explanation of ACLED’s methodology for collecting data on the Yemen conflict, click here.

For interview requests and press inquiries, please contact:

Sam Jones, Communications Manager

communications@acleddata.com