SANAA: Nearly a decade into Yemen’s brutal war, some 4.5 million, constituting two out of every five, of its children are not attending school, the charity Save the Children said Monday.
Despite a relative calm since an April 2022 ceasefire, Yemen’s education system remains severely disrupted, reflecting the precarious nature of daily life in the war-torn nation, especially for its youngest citizens.
The report highlights that displaced children are twice as likely to drop out of school compared to their peers, further exacerbating an already dire situation. Economic instability, compounded by the conflict, has plunged a staggering two-thirds of Yemen’s 33 million inhabitants below the poverty line, the charity emphasized, with approximately 4.5 million people displaced from their homes.
“Nine years into this forgotten conflict, we are confronting an education emergency like never before,” stated Mohammed Manna, Save the Children’s interim country director in Yemen. “Our latest findings must be a wake-up call, and we must act now to protect these children and their future.”
Insecurity and economic hardships emerged as primary factors contributing to the alarming dropout rates. While 14 percent of families cited insecurity as the reason for their children leaving school, a significant majority, accounting for 44 percent, pointed to economic reasons, including the necessity to support family incomes. Additionally, around 20 percent mentioned their inability to afford regular school costs.
Save the Children underscored the profound impact of the education crisis on Yemen’s children and their future prospects, warning of the risk of an entire generation being left behind without immediate intervention.
