Copy
Yemen Data Project: Collating data on political violence and Saudi coalition air raids.
View this email in your browser
Subscribe to YDP Updates
Facebook Facebook
Twitter Twitter
Website Website
Email Email

YEMEN DATA PROJECT AIR RAIDS SUMMARY NOVEMBER 2020
 

Civilian Casualties Reach Record Low As Bombings Pass 22,000

No civilian casualties recorded in air raids for only the second month in 5.5 years as Saudi coalition air raids surpass 22,000
 
For only the second month since the start of the Saudi-led air war, zero civilian casualties were recorded in October.  December 2019 - during an undeclared de-escalation in the conflict - was the only other month in 5.5 years of the bombing campaign when Yemen Data Project recorded no civilian deaths or injuries in air strikes.  

In October, Saudi-led coalition bombings reached a total of 22,184* air raids 
with up to 64,262 individual air strikes since the Saudi/UAE-led air war began in March 2015 - an average of 11 bombings per day - killing and injuring at least 18,553 civilians. At least 6,568 -  30% - of all air raids hit civilian targets. One third (7,331) hit military targets. In 37% of air raids the target could not be identified.

Air raid numbers were down 16% month-on-month to 186 in October from 221 in September. However, the total number of air raids in 2020 is set to be significantly higher than 2019, with bombing rates currently 65% above those seen to the end of October last year. Civilian casualties in 2020 are expected to be at a record annual low. To the end of October there have been fewer civilian deaths and injuries (207) in the 10 months of 2020 than there were in the first week (375) of the bombing campaign in March 2015.
 
Marib and Al-Jawf Remain Focus of Bombings

Marib continues to be the most heavily bombed governorate in 2020. Although air raid numbers declined in October by almost a third, to 76 from the record high of 112 in September, more than 30% of all bombings so far this year have targeted the contested governorate that hosts 130 displacement sites and is home to some 1 million internally displaced people. Neighbouring Al-Jawf has also seen a record number of bombings so far this year. October had one of the highest monthly bombing rates in the governorate of the entire air war. Almost a quarter (23%) of all air raids in the month hit a single district: Khab Wa Al-Sha'af in Al-Jawf, which has been the most heavily targeted district countrywide for three consecutive monthsIn October, 68% of all air raids hit Al-Jawf and Marib.

AIR RAIDS DOWN 16% ON SEPTEMBER 2020
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES 0

TOTAL NUMBERS MARCH 2015 - OCTOBER 2020
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES 18,534
AIR RAIDS 22,184
 
The highest number of air raids recorded in a single month remains September 2015 at 920, which was also the deadliest month in the air war when at least 756 civilians were killed.
April 2015 saw the highest number of civilian casualties (fatalities and injured) in a single month at 1,745.

In YDP's data the air raid* figure is the most conservative. The true number of individual airstrikes ranges from the minimum of 22,184 to a maximum airstrikes of 64,262 since March 2015.
OCTOBER  2020 
In October, 7% of bombings hit civilian targets** 22% hit military targets. In 71% of air raids in October the target could not be identified. Of the 54 air raids where the target could be identified, 24% of bombings hit civilian sites. 76% of identifiable targets were military.
Of the 54 air raids where the target was identified in October 2020 
  • 5 hit residential areas.
  • 4 hit farms.
  • 2 hit market places.
  • 1 hit a government compound.
  • 1 hit a pro-Houthi water borne improvised explosive device (WBIED).
Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward

MOST HEAVILY BOMBED GOVERNORATES OCTOBER 2020
 
MARIB: Breakdown of districts targeted
 
Marib continues to be the most heavily bombed governorate of 2020. More than 30% of all Saudi-led coalition air raids in 2020 have targeted Marib. In October, 41% of air raids hit Marib. Medghal was he most heavily bombed district in the governorate with 21 of the 76 air raids in the month in Marib hitting the district.
 AL-JAWF: Breakdown of districts targeted

For the third consecutive month, Khab Wa Al-Sha'af district of Al-Jawf was the most heavily bombed district countrywide in October with 43 air raids, up from 26 in September. 68% of all air raids countrywide in October hit Al-Jawf and Marib governorates.
Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward

POLITICAL VIOLENCE DATA
 
Separate to our air raids data collection, as part of our work to enhance conflict monitoring and data sharing, YDP is collaborating with the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project on countrywide political violence data.
This extensive monitoring effort has allowed ACLED and YDP to provide the most comprehensive coverage of political violence across Yemen.
ACLED's methodology on casualty counting differs from Yemen Data Project's air raids data. See here for more details on ACLED's methodology and coding decisions used in their data collection.
 
FOR MORE DETAILS AND COMMENT PLEASE CONTACT:
Iona Craig (UK) +447446598852 iona.craig@yemendataproject.org
Subscribe to YDP Updates
*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. Read more.
**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.
Copyright © 2019 The Yemen Data Project. All rights reserved.

For further information on the Yemen Data Project please visit www.yemendataproject.org or contact the project's spokesperson, Iona Craig: iona.craig@yemendataproject.org 
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp