"The poor rise early, so that no one surpasses them in suffering," echoed the words of the late poet Mohammad Al-Magout. It is almost as if he foresaw the plight of children in our land, burdened with shouldering the struggles of their families crushed by relentless humanitarian and economic crises spawned by a decade-long war whose origins remain shrouded in uncertainty. This unending conflict has stripped them of their family's livelihoods and left them in a state of perpetual uncertainty.
In the remote provinces of Bani Ali, Al-Athalooth, Bani Mansour, and Bani Al-Azab nestled in Lower Wesab, a poignant scene unfolds before your eyes. Here, amid the rugged landscapes west of Dhammar, lie the stories of numerous children, their ages hovering between thirteen and seventeen. Laden with heavy "Bags" slung over their shoulders, brimming with clothes, and clutching plastic bags teeming with assorted wares, these young souls embark on a grueling journey. Their path winds through village dwellings, a journey on foot that spans an arduous 12 hours, crossing valleys and scaling mountains with no safety or protection tools. Enduring the unpredictable whims of weather, navigating treacherous terrains, enduring the searing heat of the sun, and facing a myriad of dangers along the way, these children bear a burden far beyond their tender years.
Driven by an indomitable spirit and a resilience that defies their youth, they press on, their determination a beacon in the midst of adversity. Each step they take echoes a tale of hardship, each moment a testament to their unwavering resolve in the face of life's harshest realities. Theirs is a narrative of suffering etched in the lines of their weary faces, a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by the most vulnerable among us.
A smile melts away the weariness from Abu Bakr's face
Among those we encountered during field observation was the child Abu Bakr (13 years old), who carried a bag filled with clothes on his back, while his hands grasped two bags containing accessories and other household items. He moved between villages, a rustic smile adorning his face, overcoming his feelings of exhaustion and fear of his merchandise getting wet from the falling rain.
Abu Bakr, who is studying in the seventh grade, tries to balance between his studies and work. He leaves his village in Bani Ali province at six in the morning and continues to roam with his goods among several villages until dusk, according to his statement to Khuyut.
When I inquired about his motivation for working, his expression was one of surprise, almost as if my question was perplexing or offensive to him: "How can I not work?!" he exclaimed. "I work to support my family..!!" Sensing his confusion, I quickly adjusted my question, "I mean in this demanding work?" To which he responded, "What choice do I have, by Allah, I just stumbled upon this job," elaborating that his father lacks a steady income and is unable to work. Thus, he and his older brother, who left school in the sixth grade and went to Sanaa to sell water, shoulder the responsibility of providing for their family of five.
According to Abu Bakr, he assists a local trader in Bani Ali, who entrusts him with merchandise to sell, with his share of the profit amounting to 150 riyals from a thousand. Such is the reality of Abu Bakr's daily life, where resilience and faith guide him through the challenges he faces.
Until the end of the 1990s, the village of Bani Omar in Wesab was renowned for its tailoring and clothing sales. The wandering vendor between villages was affectionately known as "Omari," as shared by Hajj Abbas Qasim, a wise elder in his sixties from Wesab. He reflected, "Times changed with the emergence of a more conservative generation that even restricted the elderly women from interacting with these roaming vendors. People began relying more on markets for their purchases. Life was simpler back then, with cars freely traveling to the Thalooth market - a bustling hub in the directorate. You could hop on any passing vehicle and return with your essentials in hand."
He went on to say, "In those days, some utilized children to sell local garments, though in limited quantities and sporadically. Nowadays, their numbers are on the rise, with children frequenting homes to vend clothes, accessories, cosmetics, spices, and more."
The continuation of the conflict in Yemen, the poorest country in the world, has led to the suspension of initiatives aimed at eradicating child labor. International assistance has shifted its focus towards addressing urgent humanitarian concerns and providing relief efforts. The alarming situation raises serious concerns about the escalating harm being inflicted on Yemeni children and the precariousness of their future prospects.
Reflections on the Past and Setbacks of the Present
Hajj Abbas attributes this to the poverty that has compelled people to "send out their children like ants," referring to their large numbers. This is in contrast to the situation before the war when children began attending schools, focusing on education, and assisting their families in agricultural and household tasks during their free time. He pointed out the efforts made by parents to ensure their children excelled, with many even selling their livestock to enable both boys and girls to study. Upon completing high school, boys are sent to cities to pursue higher education at universities.
The province of Wesab, Dhammar, ranks third in child labor (aged 5-17) at 26%, with 38.1% of children engaged in hazardous work in the district, according to data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey released in 2023 by the Central Statistical Organization in Yemen, with technical support from UNICEF.
The same data revealed that 23.4% of children in Yemen are involved in hazardous work, mostly in rural areas (28%) compared to urban areas (11.1%).
The findings from the national survey on child labor in Yemen in 2010 revealed that a staggering 1.6 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 were involved in the labor market, with the majority hailing from rural areas. A significant portion (57.4%) of these children toiled in the agricultural sector, while 30% were engaged in non-agricultural primary occupations. Among this group, many worked as porters, laborers, gatekeepers, and in related fields. Upon closer examination, it was discovered that these children mainly undertook tasks such as fetching water and firewood for their families and others. Additionally, a small percentage (7.2%) of working children were employed in service and sales sectors, with craftsmen making up a mere 2.8% of the workforce.
The continuation of the conflict in Yemen, the poorest country in the world, has led to the suspension of initiatives aimed at eradicating child labor. International assistance has shifted its focus towards addressing urgent humanitarian concerns and providing relief efforts. The alarming situation raises serious concerns about the escalating harm being inflicted on Yemeni children and the precariousness of their future prospects.
During a field investigation in several villages in Wesab, Dhammar, Khuyut reporter observed a rise in the rate of children working in the directorate. It was noted that nearly every household in these areas had children working to support their families. The country is currently facing a severe crisis that has cast shadows over most families. Many households that once had a moderate income have now fallen into poverty, pushing them to enlist their children in various professions, some of which surpass their young ages by far.
It has become a common sight to witness children as young as thirteen riding motorcycles, struggling to maintain balance on the rough mountain roads. Their frail bodies and feet that barely touch the ground often betray them. Some children have taken on the tasks of collecting firewood, engaging in construction work, and working in restaurants, cafes, stalls, and shops in markets such as Al Thalooth, Al Ahad, Mishrafah, and others.
The craft of weaving Maawaz (traditional Yemeni clothing) topped the list of occupations where children worked in the directorate, particularly young girls. A previous survey on the Khuyut platform indicated that the Maawaz weaving craft served as a refuge for many families, especially those of teachers who had their salaries suspended. They turned to this craft to alleviate the pressures brought about by the ongoing war and its crises.
Children have traditionally played a significant role in the handwoven textiles trade. However, the recent decline in this industry has forced families to explore alternative means of earning a living. In their quest for sustenance, some families have resorted to taking risks by sending their sons to urban areas in pursuit of work opportunities.
It is indeed a tragic reality to witness, where we teachers have been deprived of our salaries, forcing our children to become the breadwinners in our households instead of us providing for them. I was left with no option but to take my daughters out of school so they could contribute to the Maawaz industry, their earnings becoming a replacement for the vanished salary that could barely meet our daily expenses. Sadly, this has become the shared fate of many of my colleagues in the teaching profession.
Children Lighting Up Darkness with Their Youth
It is truly disheartening to witness children having to dispel darkness with their tender ages. Abdulrahman, a 15-year-old child, has spent his formative years weaving threads of light that rival the Maawaz threads he produces, thereby illuminating a fraction of the darkness caused by the economic crises exacerbated by years of war and the absence of his father's salary as a teacher at the village school.
In addition to Abdulrahman, his two sisters, aged 13 and 16, were forced to abandon their education due to their father's salary being cut off in 2016, the sole means of livelihood for their family of twelve. They have resorted to mastering the craft of Maawaz weaving using portable hand machines designed for home workers to support their family.
Their father sadly laments, "After losing our salaries, our children are now the ones supporting us instead of the other way around." He further explains, "I had no choice but to withdraw my daughters from school so they could focus on working in the Maawaz industry, with their earnings serving as a substitute for the lost salary that barely covered our household expenses." He noted that this was the decision made by most of his fellow teachers.
When I inquired as to why they did not seek work themselves, he clarified that they were compelled to continue teaching and working daily without pay to avoid being marked as absent and subsequently dismissed.
A total of 171,600 teachers - two-thirds of the education workforce - did not receive their salaries regularly. According to a UNICEF report in July 2021, over two million children (boys and girls of school age) are out of school due to poverty, conflict, and lack of educational opportunities, with nearly four million additional children at risk of losing their chance to receive an education. Official data in 2023 revealed that 25% of children in primary education and over half (53%) of children in secondary education are out of school.
With high spirits, a smile brimming with determination and resilience, Abdulrahman shares that he and his sisters work from 6 in the morning until 10 at night, totaling 16 hours a day. At times, they continue until midnight if other responsibilities such as assisting their parents with farming and household chores keep them occupied. Regarding production and financial compensation, he explains that it varies depending on the type of Maawaz. Some types can be completed in a day for a fee ranging from 1500 to 2000 riyals, while others may take two days or more, with compensation reaching up to 3000 riyals. Most of the payments, according to their father, were received after completing a batch of Maawaz (8-10 pieces). However, following the recent collapse of the Maawaz market, clients only provide them with a small portion of the payment, often compensating them with food items from a trader they deal with.
Abdulrahman, who successfully completed the ninth grade this year with a commendable GPA of 77.29, persevered despite the challenges of balancing his weaving work. He holds onto hope for the crisis to cease, allowing him to resume his learning with the determination to attain a higher level of education.
The number of children engaged in labor in the directorate has sharply risen recently, driven by the country's challenging economic circumstances. Among them are children under the age of fifteen who have turned to various tasks like weaving, scavenging, construction work, and even begging.
Ways to Mitigate Various Risks
The children working in the area face significant risks as they embark on their adventures to earn a livelihood. For example, Hussam, a thirteen-year-old who operates a motorcycle to transport passengers between the market and the villages, often experiences falls, leading to injuries and wounds for himself and his passengers. His father confirmed that at times, they have to seek medical treatment at the center. Additionally, a wandering vendor shared an incident of falling from a slope, resulting in bruises and injuries, along with their struggles against sunburn, cold weather, and the flu.
Social and psychological specialist Ahmed Ali Saleh Al-Ahmadi has noted a concerning surge in the number of working children in the directorate, driven by the country's challenging economic landscape. He laments the fact that children under fifteen, who should ideally be in school, are now taking on a variety of tasks such as weaving, collecting recyclables, gathering firewood and stones, engaging in construction work, some transitioning to street vending, others resorting to begging, and other activities that strain their physical capabilities.
Ahmed, serving as a case manager at the Community Center for Child Protection and Family Guidance in Al-Ahad (a sub-district center in Wesab, Dhammar), underscores the far-reaching negative impacts of this trend on both local and distant communities. He also highlights the children's entry into the labor force and the weight of familial responsibilities they bear. Beyond affecting their education and awareness levels, these endeavors subject them to a multitude of psychological, health, and physical risks, including physical violence, exploitation, harassment, unethical practices, and behavioral deviations.
Furthermore, Ahmed highlights the challenging circumstances faced by children, especially those working as roaming vendors in rural and isolated regions. These children often find themselves spending nights away from the safety of their homes, navigating unfamiliar and potentially dangerous environments. The need to traverse dark pathways further exacerbates the risks they encounter, potentially culminating in tragic outcomes.
It is worth noting that the situation worsens for children who turn to work in urban areas, amidst a high-risk environment and deteriorating security, humanitarian, and ethical conditions. Children may fall victim to violations and even murder, as tragically exemplified by the case of 15-year-old Mohammed Mahdi Saleem Qaid from the village of Al-Sumhah, Bani Suwaidah, in Wesab, Dhammar. He ventured to Taiz city to work in a restaurant, unaware that he would lose his life in a mysterious incident. He was found hanging on a water pipe in the restaurant's restroom on Saturday, February 9, 2019, a heartbreaking event that garnered attention on local platforms at the time.
In conclusion, as per Ahmed's insights, the key to addressing the issue lies in enhancing families' awareness of the risks associated with various forms of child labor. It is crucial to discourage the involvement of children in hazardous tasks and instead, seek out age-appropriate and suitable work options that match their capabilities, thus preventing undue strain and fatigue. Moreover, Ahmed stresses the significance of ensuring that teachers and workers receive their due payments promptly. Additionally, providing economic support to families lacking primary breadwinners, who often rely on children for sustenance, is essential. This support can come in the form of state aid or assistance from relevant organizations. By supporting children, creating safe job opportunities, strengthening educational programs, and advocating for free education, we can take significant strides towards safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable children and fostering a brighter future for them.
