The conflict in Yemen enters its eleventh year amid the continued perpetration of horrific violations by various parties to the conflict, in a context marked by the collapse of state institutions, which have crumbled in favor of armed groups backed by rival regional powers. This situation—worsened by rapid regional and international developments—has deepened the suffering of Yemenis and continued to deprive them of their fundamental rights to life, dignity, and freedom, further entrenching the isolation imposed upon them.
This eighth annual report by Mwatana for Human Rights seeks to shed light on the state of human rights in Yemen during 2024. It provides an overview of the most prominent incidents and patterns of violations committed by different parties to the conflict, including the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group; forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, including those affiliated with the Islah Party; the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in its various formations; the Saudi/UAE-led coalition; and the Joint Forces. The report also highlights violations committed by other regional and international actors, including the US-UK coalition and Israeli forces—both of which emerged as new parties to the conflict during 2024.
Through this report, Mwatana for Human Rights aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the scale and types of violations endured by Yemenis in 2024, based on the organization’s documentation. The report seeks to amplify the voices of victims, expose the magnitude of the ongoing tragedy, and urge the international community and human rights organizations to act to end the humanitarian catastrophe that Yemenis have faced for over a decade.
In 2024, Mwatana for Human Rights documented 1,499 incidents of violations committed by various parties to the conflict in Yemen. These serious violations posed a direct threat to the lives and safety of civilians. They resulted in the deaths of at least 181 civilians, including at least 45 children and 2 women, while at least 471 civilians were injured, among them at least 220 children and 32 women. In addition, at least 1,248 civilians—including at least 246 children and 39 women—were victims of other patterns of violations, most notably enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, the recruitment and use of children, sexual violence, and attacks on press freedom, public liberties, and civic space, among others.
According to the report’s findings, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group topped the list of perpetrators in 2024, bearing responsibility for 867 documented violations. The Southern Transitional Council(STC) was responsible for 265 violations, while the internationally recognized Yemeni government was responsible for 264. The Joint Forces on the western coast were responsible for 32 violations, and the Saudi/UAE-led coalition for 31. Additionally, Israeli forces were responsible for 8 violations, as were Eritrean forces, and the US-UK "Prosperity Guardian" coalition for 7 violations. Terrorist organizations were responsible for 3 violations, while non-state actors—primarily human smuggling and trafficking gangs—were responsible for 14 documented incidents.
The report’s findings are based on investigative interviews conducted by Mwatana’s field team of researchers and lawyers—both women and men—across various governorates throughout 2024. The team carried out at least 2,271 interviews with primary sources regarding at least 1,499 incidents. The findings are also supported by field visits conducted by both central and field teams, hundreds of supporting documents, regular updates on the situation in Yemen compiled by Mwatana’s field researchers throughout the year, and statistical reports and bulletins issued by international organizations and agencies concerned with Yemen.
Despite the decrease in large-scale military operations during the year, the persistence of these violations demonstrates a lack of serious effort by parties to the conflict to protect civilians or mitigate the harm inflicted upon them. This negligence reflects a flagrant disregard for the fundamental rules and principles of international humanitarian law, which strictly prohibit all forms of violence against life and physical integrity—including killing, maiming, and physical and psychological assault.
In addition to the introduction and methodology, the report provides a general background on the armed conflict in Yemen, its origins and evolution, the territorial control map of conflict parties, the humanitarian and human rights situation, and the legal framework governing the nature of the armed conflict in Yemen and the applicable legal rules. The report also highlights key patterns of human rights violations against civilians in 2024, including aerial bombardment (airstrikes and drone attacks), ground shelling, live ammunition, landmines and explosive remnants of war, vehicular assaults by military vehicles, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, extrajudicial killings, child recruitment and use, sexual violence, attacks on vital civilian infrastructure protected under international humanitarian law, restrictions and obstruction of humanitarian aid, and violations of civic space and public freedoms.