Yemeni Children Risk Lives Daily for Education Amidst Intensifying Conflict

Children in Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz are braving extreme dangers, including sniper fire and mortar attacks, to attend school, underscoring the brutal realities of the ongoing civil war.

Ten-year-old Rafeef begins her day at 6 a.m. to prepare for school, a journey that takes her through a contested front line. Her school is situated on a mountain bordering a valley that serves as a no-man's land between government-held territory and Houthi sniper positions. Rafeef describes her fear walking uphill with her back to the snipers, yet she remains determined to continue her education. "I'm afraid," she stated, "but I love seeing my friends."

According to UNICEF, millions of children in Yemen were already out of school before the recent escalation of the war, and thousands have been killed or maimed since the conflict began in 2014. Despite the risks, Rafeef's parents support her education, hoping it will offer her a better future. She aspires to become a doctor.

Rafeef's family relocated to Taiz from Hudaydah nine years ago to escape fighting. Taiz itself has endured significant conflict, and two years ago, a mortar attack near Rafeef's home resulted in a broken arm for her. Recent days have seen an intensification of conflict, with the Houthis cutting off a vital supply route to Aden, effectively encircling Taiz. Residents fear the city could fall at any moment.

While government forces have reported gains in other areas, including strategic points on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the situation in Taiz remains precarious. Homes are scattered, and many have been abandoned. Twice, attempts to visit Rafeef's neighborhood were halted due to ongoing danger, with reports of snipers injuring residents.

At Rafeef's school, a teacher named Abdel Raqeeb al-Obaidi pointed out Houthi military positions visible from the rooftop. He acknowledged the constant danger, stating, "The situation may explode at any moment while we are sitting in class or sleeping or we are in school or we are out on the street. We do not know how our future is and how tomorrow is."

Taiz has been a central battleground since 2015, when the Houthis were repelled from the city after attempting to seize it following their takeover of the capital, Sanaa. The Houthis are reportedly using drones extensively in their current offensive.

The civilian cost of the conflict is starkly illustrated by recent events. A mortar strike on a mechanic's shop tragically killed three-year-old Ahmed, who had accompanied his father on an errand. Shrapnel pierced his heart. His father, unharmed, was left to face the devastating loss.

Eleven-year-old Amjad was also injured in the same mortar attack, sustaining shrapnel wounds to his lung and abdomen. He was in critical condition, struggling to breathe. His mother, delayed by an eight-hour journey, arrived to find him in intensive care.

Amjad has since undergone surgery and remains critically ill. "We're always terrified. It's devastating to see children killed," said Ikram Shamsan, a nurse at Al-Rawdah Hospital. "We want peace and we want to be safe."