Yemen: Children Brave Snipers and Mortars to Go to School Near Front Line
Children in Yemen, like 10-year-old Rafeef, face immense risks simply by attending school. Her school in Taiz, south-western Yemen, sits on a mountain overlooking a heavily contested front line in the civil war between government forces and the Iran-backed Houthis.
On one side of her school is territory held by the government, while snipers positioned on mountains beyond the valley control the other side. Rafeef's home is even further down the mountain, meaning she must hike uphill with her back to the snipers each day.
According to Unicef, more than 3.2 million children in Yemen were out of school even before the war escalated last month. The conflict has led to thousands of child fatalities and injuries, and many have been recruited by armed groups.
Despite these dangers, Rafeef remains determined to continue her education because it offers her a chance to see her friends and aspire to a better future. She dreams of becoming a doctor.
Her family moved from the coastal city of Hudaydah to Taiz in search of safety two years ago. However, Taiz has also experienced intense fighting, including a mortar attack that left Rafeef with a broken arm. In recent days, the conflict has escalated further as the Houthis cut off vital supply routes and threaten to seize control of the city.