Civilian Death Toll on the Rise as Saudi Arabia Leads Airstrikes on Yemen · Global Voices
Abir Ghattas

Photograph shared by Yemeni journalist Nasser Arrabyee
@narrabyee on Twitter
A total of 18 civilians have been killed and 24 people injured as Saudi Arabia and its allies bombed Houthi rebels in airstrikes on Yemen early this morning, announced the Yemeni Ministry of Health.
A 10-nation coalition which includes Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Sudan, Morocco, Pakistan, Egypt and Jordan have started airstrikes against Yemen to fight Houthi rebels, who have taken control of Yemen in January. Dubbed Operation Decisive Storm, the operation has the full blessing of the US, a key Saudi ally.
On Twitter, the human toll of the attack came to light as Yemenis woke up to the carnage in the capital Sanaa. The first airstrike took place just after 2 am.
Yemen Updates tweets:
Ministry of Health: 18 civilian people were killed and 24 others were wounded in the #Saudi assault on #Sanaa, via SabaNews. #Yemen
— Yemen Updates (@yemen_updates) March 26, 2015
Yemeni political activist Ammar al-Aulaqi tweeted that families were fleeing Sanaa after the airstrikes resumed at 6:09am:
Heavy traffic on roads leading out of Sanaa, whole families are fleeing today. — Ammar Al-Aulaqi (@ammar82) March 26, 2015
Just like Ammar el Aulaqui, several Yemeni Twitter users are sharing photographs of the destruction caused by the airstrikes, that hit several civilian neighbourhoods in the north of Sanaa.
more casualties of saudi/US war on yemen. reports of many causalities on a neighbour hood north of sanaa. pic.twitter.com/kXMWzYzV26 — Hussain Albukhaiti (@HussainBukhaiti) March 26, 2015
the destroyed homes in sanaa that was targeted by Saudi/US lead war against yemen. pic.twitter.com/BahBx8DJo4 — Hussain Albukhaiti (@HussainBukhaiti) March 26, 2015
in this neighbourhood north of sanaa many women and children were killed. pic.twitter.com/O1ZoxjVhkP — Hussain Albukhaiti (@HussainBukhaiti) March 26, 2015
Yemeni journalist, Nasser Arrabyee also tweeted about the civilian houses destroyed by the attack.
Civilian houses and cars nearby Yemen Sanaa airport destroyed by Saudi bombing this morning. pic.twitter.com/GAHtadvjZF — Nasser Arrabyee (@narrabyee) March 26, 2015
Yemeni blogger and activist Afrah Nasser tweeted that the current situation in Aden is a bloody street war with several causalities.
.@lina22980 in #Aden tweets: a street war now in #Aden. Killed bodies lying on the ground down the streets. #Yemen
— Afrah Nasser (@Afrahnasser) March 26, 2015
She also highlighted the humanitarian crisis that will only get worse after these attacks, since in Yemen more than 15.9 million people are in need of some kind of humanitarian assistance.
15.9 ml ppl – 8% more than last year – currently require some kind of humanitarian assistance in Yemen. http://t.co/VO6ISZVnAc — Afrah Nasser (@Afrahnasser) March 26, 2015
The real tragedy would be the disastrous humanitarian situation. Starvation & lack of basic services would lead to more violence #Yemen
— Afrah Nasser (@Afrahnasser) March 26, 2015
Finally, Hisham Al-Omeisi tweets reflect that the civilian death and injury toll is only going to increase given that there is no infrastructure in place to protect the civilians during war time, especially against airstrikes.
No bomb shelters, safehavens in Sana'a whatsoever..we never expected airstrikes/bombardment nor are prepared to deal with it.. #Yemen — Hisham Al-Omeisy (@omeisy) March 26, 2015
Stay tuned for more coverage from Yemen.