UN: 40% of Yemeni children deprived of education due to war

The United Nations reports that 40% of children in Yemen are denied access to education due to nearly a decade of conflict, deepening the country’s humanitarian crisis. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only 61% of school-age children attend school, leaving over 4.5 million without education.

The report highlights that of Yemen’s 10.7 million school-age children, many face barriers such as insecurity and conflict-related disruptions. Over 20% of schools are closed due to damage or repurposing as shelters for displaced families.

Two-thirds of children live in hard-to-reach areas, further complicating access to education. Additionally, poverty and a lack of educational resources exacerbate the crisis, depriving entire generations of basic learning opportunities.

The UN warns of long-term impacts, with out-of-school children at greater risk of exploitation, forced labor, and recruitment by warring factions. The agency calls for urgent international action to address Yemen’s education crisis and safeguard children’s futures.