Children: Yemen’s Most Vulnerable Group Struggles Economically to Survive

Hanan Hussein – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

For several years, Yemen has been witnessing a stifling economic crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict within the country, particularly affecting the most vulnerable groups, with children at the forefront. The deteriorating economic situation has exacerbated social problems and increased poverty and unemployment rates, pushing many children to engage in illegal activities and stray from the right path, posing a threat to their future and the stability of society.

Reports and Statistics

As the conflict in Yemen enters its tenth year, many Yemenis still face the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, according to the latest report published by UNICEF in 2024. The report indicates that approximately 9.8 million children need one or more forms of humanitarian assistance. The organization explained that the decline in active conflict observed since mid-2022 has led to decreased civilian casualties and suffering in local communities. Still, the situation remains fragile and requires a sustainable political settlement.

In addition to the ongoing economic crises, which have created deep gaps between exchange rates in different governorates, the currency has collapsed, dragging down all aspects of a decent life. This is where the suffering of children, as the most vulnerable group in society, becomes evident. Along with the currency collapse, there has been severe inflation and a surge in food and commodity prices, leaving many families facing reduced purchasing power. This has become the biggest driver behind the need for children to take to the streets and seek sustenance through various means.

The organization stated in its report that “the ongoing humanitarian crisis has increased the vulnerability of children and women, exposing them to exploitation, violence, abuse, child labor, killing, maiming, recruitment by parties to the conflict, violence, child marriage, and psychosocial distress.”

According to the 2022 “Hunger Hotspots” report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP), Yemen remains one of the most concerning countries. The report states that hunger is increasing in Yemen due to a toxic mix of conflict and economic deterioration, leading to half of Yemeni families consuming less food than the human body needs to live healthily.

Social Impact

Ibrahim Qaid, a social specialist, highlights the significant impact of the economic situation on children: “The financial situation greatly affects the situation of families in Yemen. Families that can provide their children with basic needs such as food, drink, clothing, healthcare, and education will positively influence the child’s personality in all aspects, making them less prone to mental illness. Conversely, families unable to provide for their children’s needs will generate feelings of deprivation, resentment, and envy, leading to various psychological illnesses or forms of violence.”

An Economic Perspective

Economic researcher Nabil Al-Sharabi states: “In any society, stability is measured by various factors, with the economic factor being the primary determinant of living with dignity and having protected rights. The state of economic stability, or lack thereof, shapes the reality of society; either a society enjoys all its economic, social, human, and citizenship rights, or a deprived society deprived of a decent life in all its aspects, from education, health, housing, decent work, and healthy nutrition.”

Regarding the impact of child labor on the overall economy, Nabil says: “Negative variables result in negative impacts on several levels, including the economic level. Authorities are forced to allocate budgets to address the consequences of this phenomenon and mitigate its damage, at the expense of development.”

He continues: “The impact may extend to the family, which finds itself forced to direct its possessions, savings, or income to follow up and retrieve their working child, often at the expense of their livelihood.”

Overall Impact

Abdu Al-Hudhaifi, head of Mayun for Human Rights and Development Organization, outlines the devastating impact of the deteriorating economic and living conditions on society: “The situation affects society catastrophically. Children are the most vulnerable group; students drop out of school, and those who reach school age cannot enroll. Families are forced to push their children into the labor market despite the significant risks involved. However, the most dangerous consequence is pushing children into recruitment camps, either in pursuit of a monthly allowance, food aid, or obtaining a weapon.”

Muna Al-Ban, Director General of the Child Labor Unit at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in Aden states: “Yemen is among the poorest Arab countries, exhausted by years of conflict that have increased poverty and unemployment rates. Children are the most affected by these events. According to research conducted by the Development Research Group on the impact of economic crises, these children often drop out of education or lack access to healthcare, which will leave them in a dire situation even long after the conflict ends.”

She continues: “Child labor and juvenile delinquency are consequences of these problems, increasing with mounting economic pressures on society, family breakdown, weak financial resources, bad company, weak control mechanisms, and unemployment among adults.”

Iqbal Al-Siyaghi, Deputy Director of a juvenile detention center, highlights the significant impact of the declining economic level: “This decline pushes children to engage in activities inappropriate for their age. They resort to taking to the streets, seeking ways to earn money in unsuitable places and through various means, such as begging and theft.”

Iqbal explains that other factors might drive children to illegal activities like selling and begging. When these prove insufficient for some children, they turn to theft and other means to earn money, posing a challenge to society as a whole.

Spread of Crime Among Children

Abdu Al-Hudhaifi states, regarding the prevalence of crime among children, “There is a direct correlation between the deterioration of the economic and living conditions in any country and the problems related to children, including violations against them and the exacerbation of issues and phenomena related to them. We find family disintegration and violence, and the child resorting to the streets without supervision or follow-up, becoming easy prey for criminals with a psychological predisposition to violence as a result of what he faces at home and school, and even influenced by social media platforms and unbalanced media discourse.”

In the same context, Ibrahim Qaid, a social specialist, believes that the spread of child labor and their entry into the workforce, mixing with adults, has led them to acquire wrong habits and behaviors, especially if they are with unhealthy individuals, in addition to their involvement with begging and robbery groups, and the emergence of the phenomenon of dropping out of school.

Nabil Al-Sharabi believes that the deteriorating economic situation may cast a shadow on everyone, and children, it breaks their protection framework, starting with the family, passing through the community, and reaching society. He adds, “Children drop out of education and are deprived of their childhood rights, and are forced under the pressure of poverty into homelessness, hazardous labor, and recruitment by individuals or groups that practice illicit activities; they become young criminals at an age when they are supposed to be in school or the bosom of their families.”

General Challenges

Nabil Al-Sharabi explains that many juvenile delinquents have been involved in cases and crimes under threats, or as a result of being subjected to sexual assault or falling under the influence of addiction. These are the most prominent challenges that a child may face in general, leading them to a path contrary to their nature.

Muna Al-Ban confirms that the increase in child labor leads to higher unemployment rates among adults, and this is a major challenge facing society. She adds, “It is noticeable that children engaged in the labor market work only in the informal sector, and therefore there is no guarantee for them, no safety measures, and no wages equal to those of adults, as well as working for long hours, all of which led to the child being exhausted at work in his desire to obtain any amount of money that guarantees him and his family a livelihood.”

She continues, “We find that the child faces significant challenges, including falling under legal accountability due to ignorance of the laws and conventions regarding children’s rights. These laws emphasize the child’s right to a decent life throughout various stages of their development and their right to a future with better prospects. This includes International Labor Convention No. 182, concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Convention No. 138, concerning the Minimum Age for admission to employment.”

Causes of Juvenile Delinquency

Dr. Radhiya Yaslam Salih Basamad, a sociology specialist in Aden, states, “Juvenile delinquency poses a serious threat to society and the public order of the country. Among the most important causes leading to delinquency are parents’ negligence in supervising their children and their inability to provide them with the necessary parental care. The absence of an influential authority figure in children’s lives leads to rebellion.”

Muna Al-Ban echoes this sentiment, explaining that the primary reason for delinquency and problems among youth is parental neglect or their inability to provide adequate care. She states that children often resort to the streets, bad company, drug abuse, and forming gangs, contributing to the spread of crime.

Abdu Al-Hudhaifi believes that poverty, the need for money, and parents’ preoccupation with work for most of the day lead to children being left unsupervised on the streets. Additionally, he cites the lack of safety and security within the home environment, such as exposure to psychological or physical abuse and witnessing constant arguments and violence between parents, as factors that compel children to seek refuge and a sense of security on the streets.

Solutions and Interventions

Abdu Al-Hudhaifi argues that the return of societal peace, security, and stability in the country will lead to economic improvement, positively impacting society, particularly families and children. However, he stresses the need for proactive measures while working towards this goal. He emphasizes the urgency of ensuring children’s return to school, providing them with safety and security, protecting them from recruitment and violations by parties to the conflict, and evaluating the distribution of aid to prevent its manipulation for child recruitment.

Nabil Al-Sharabi believes that addressing and eliminating poverty is paramount. This will enable the enforcement of laws, legislation, and rights, holding accountable those who neglect them. Without tackling poverty, he argues, any proposed solutions will be ineffective.

Dr. Radhiya Basamad emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts between social and educational institutions (family, school, mosque) to shield children from violence, fear, anxiety, and stress. She highlights the significance of nurturing well-rounded individuals, protecting them from delinquency, strengthening child protection laws, and enhancing social protection programs for families and children.

To ensure a brighter future for children, Muna Alban emphasizes the necessity of implementing robust interventions. These interventions should focus on disbursing overdue salaries to families, as well as fully implementing the provisions outlined in international conventions and national laws regarding child protection. Alban proposes a three-tiered approach to address these issues. In the short term, awareness programs should be intensified, highlighting the dangers of child labor, school dropout, and unresolved family problems. Medium-term solutions involve enhancing the educational process and creating an attractive school environment. Looking at the long term, poverty must be tackled through job localization. This entails replacing foreign workers with qualified locals in various organizations, activating retirement systems, and transitioning aging employees within the government sector to create opportunities for young graduates and job seekers. Finally, incorporating underprivileged families into social security networks, providing cash transfers, and updating relevant databases are crucial steps towards a sustainable solution.

In the same context, Ibrahim Qaid suggests focusing on activities like sports, particularly for youth, to build their self-esteem, develop positive skills, and steer them away from crime. He emphasizes the importance of raising awareness among families about instilling good values in children to prevent negative behaviors and highlights the critical role of proper upbringing by parents.