There are too many lost childhoods in Yemen
Huwaida
Al-Yousefi, Middle East Monitor, April 16, 2018
They
spill out into the streets early in the morning; they have small bodies, pale
faces and bold features. You might think that they are on their way to school,
but a closer look reveals that they are not carrying any school bags or books.
spill out into the streets early in the morning; they have small bodies, pale
faces and bold features. You might think that they are on their way to school,
but a closer look reveals that they are not carrying any school bags or books.
 |
|
Children
are seen in front of makeshift tents at Darwan refugee camp in Amran
north of
Sana’a, Yemen on 11 April 2018 [Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency] |
“They”
are the children of Yemen who have been pushed by the cruelty of war, hardships
and the loss of family breadwinners to leave school and what they love the
most, playing with the neighbourhood children in the decaying alleys. Instead,
they have to join the workforce in order to scratch a living and provide for
their families. The jobs that they do are usually unsuitable for their age,
size and physical abilities.
Each one
hides within them great tragedy and pain. Some have spent time on the front
line, carrying heavy weapons on their tiny shoulders, in a flagrant violation
of the rights of a child. You can find others underneath cars, learning how to
fix them, with little or no regard for the great danger and risk that this
poses. They rarely find anyone to tell them, “Watch out!”
hides within them great tragedy and pain. Some have spent time on the front
line, carrying heavy weapons on their tiny shoulders, in a flagrant violation
of the rights of a child. You can find others underneath cars, learning how to
fix them, with little or no regard for the great danger and risk that this
poses. They rarely find anyone to tell them, “Watch out!”
Others
can be found wandering the streets in the burning sun that scorches their faces
and heads; they search through piles of rubbish for empty bottles and cans which
they can sell for a little money, although that is not enough to make a living.
Some sell newspapers and various other goods, which they carry all day, while
yet more stand in lines to carry home heavy water or gas containers for their
family. Children have been seen working in any number of dangerous places, such
as bakeries, working with open fires.
can be found wandering the streets in the burning sun that scorches their faces
and heads; they search through piles of rubbish for empty bottles and cans which
they can sell for a little money, although that is not enough to make a living.
Some sell newspapers and various other goods, which they carry all day, while
yet more stand in lines to carry home heavy water or gas containers for their
family. Children have been seen working in any number of dangerous places, such
as bakeries, working with open fires.
They do
not care about the consequences and risks, and they deal with men as if they
themselves are men. With every day that passes, they lose a part of their
innocence and childhood that they can never regain. There are too many lost
childhoods in Yemen.
not care about the consequences and risks, and they deal with men as if they
themselves are men. With every day that passes, they lose a part of their
innocence and childhood that they can never regain. There are too many lost
childhoods in Yemen.
I asked
one of these children as I bought something from him how long he stays out in
the street.
one of these children as I bought something from him how long he stays out in
the street.
“Until 9
pm,” he replied. “Sometimes 10.”
pm,” he replied. “Sometimes 10.”
I was
astonished. “Do you have your meals in the streets and only go home to sleep?”
astonished. “Do you have your meals in the streets and only go home to sleep?”
“Yes.”
“Why do
you have to go through all this trouble? Are you working instead of your
parents?”
you have to go through all this trouble? Are you working instead of your
parents?”
With
great sorrow he told me that his father had passed away, leaving behind five
children, of whom he is the oldest. He is just 12. I was speechless.
great sorrow he told me that his father had passed away, leaving behind five
children, of whom he is the oldest. He is just 12. I was speechless.
I paid
for the goods and left with a pit in my stomach, sad for his wasted childhood,
which evaporates day after day under the burning sun, until it is no more.
for the goods and left with a pit in my stomach, sad for his wasted childhood,
which evaporates day after day under the burning sun, until it is no more.
No sane
person would deny that this boy and those like him are victims. They do,
however, disagree over who is to blame. It could be the parents, whose hearts
have hardened towards their children, so they have thrown them onto the
streets. It could be poverty and orphanhood, or it could be the war that spares
neither young nor old.
person would deny that this boy and those like him are victims. They do,
however, disagree over who is to blame. It could be the parents, whose hearts
have hardened towards their children, so they have thrown them onto the
streets. It could be poverty and orphanhood, or it could be the war that spares
neither young nor old.
Whoever
is responsible, the situation worsens every day given the absence of the
relevant authorities to protect these children and preserve their rights.
Nobody is upholding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which holds
governments responsible for ensuring that all children have their rights
provided for, including the right to education, protection, safety and freedom.
Article 38 of this Convention states: “Governments must do everything they can
to protect and care for children affected by war. Children under 15 should not
be forced or recruited to take part in a war or join the armed forces.”
is responsible, the situation worsens every day given the absence of the
relevant authorities to protect these children and preserve their rights.
Nobody is upholding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which holds
governments responsible for ensuring that all children have their rights
provided for, including the right to education, protection, safety and freedom.
Article 38 of this Convention states: “Governments must do everything they can
to protect and care for children affected by war. Children under 15 should not
be forced or recruited to take part in a war or join the armed forces.”
However,
such agreements are neither implemented nor given a second thought in this
tragic situation in which children are paying the highest price. Thousands of
Yemeni children have fallen victim to this situation; they’ve been killed or
wounded, or feel that they have to work. The number of children who have
dropped out of school is now in the hundreds of thousands because teachers have
gone on strike due to the non-payment of their salaries and pay cuts, as well
as the grinding poverty caused by the war.
such agreements are neither implemented nor given a second thought in this
tragic situation in which children are paying the highest price. Thousands of
Yemeni children have fallen victim to this situation; they’ve been killed or
wounded, or feel that they have to work. The number of children who have
dropped out of school is now in the hundreds of thousands because teachers have
gone on strike due to the non-payment of their salaries and pay cuts, as well
as the grinding poverty caused by the war.
The
protection of childhood requires political action to be taken, followed by
concerted efforts by government ministries and civil society in the form of non-governmental
organisations. Such efforts must be focused on reducing and ultimately
eliminating the abuse of children’s rights, and relieving the burden put on
these children’s small shoulders.
protection of childhood requires political action to be taken, followed by
concerted efforts by government ministries and civil society in the form of non-governmental
organisations. Such efforts must be focused on reducing and ultimately
eliminating the abuse of children’s rights, and relieving the burden put on
these children’s small shoulders.
