Two weeks have passed since the new school academic year 2024-2025 began in areas controlled by the Houthi authorities. Firas Naji, a sixth-grade student, can only watch as his classmates head to school. He will not be joining them this year; this has been confirmed by his father, who decided that Firas should carry a tray of hard-boiled eggs and go to the market to sell them every morning. Actually, this decision comes after his father was unable to find a job to support the family and buy school supplies for Firas and his siblings.
Moreover, the war raging in the country for the past ten years has cast a shadow over living conditions, worsening their deterioration and leading to a sever lack of job opportunities. This situation has left Firas's father, Najy Ahmed, a 56-year-old resident of Damt city in the Dhale Governorate, unable to find employment that would support his family and help his children continue their education.
Difficult Circumstances
Firas's father, a construction worker's assistant (bricklayer), appears saddened as he recounts his relentless search for work, but to no avail. Ahmed explains that construction and building activities have significantly slowed and decreased recently due to the difficult financial conditions of people and the ban imposed by the local Awqaf Office on construction in the city, citing state ownership of much of the residential lands in Damt.
Naji Ahmed supports a family of five—three daughters and two sons—while living in a rented house in Damt City. He had moved years ago from Wesab Al-Safil in Dhamar Governorate to Damt City, which once provided a livelihood for him and his family. However, he now finds himself struggling to continue living as he describes, since his work has ceased due to the severe economic conditions affecting the entire country.
In fact, the child Firas is not the only one forced to work and leave school. According to UNICEF, the United Nations organization focused on ensuring and respecting children's rights, nearly two million school-age children are out of school. The data indicate that these children are dropping out due to their parents' poor economic conditions, which compel families to push their children into the workforce.
“Firas's father does not know when he will be able to send his son back to school to continue his education. He links this possibility to finding a job that guarantees enough income to pay the rent and meet the household's basic needs for a simple living. However, he hopes this will happen soon. Meanwhile, Firas continues to go to the market every morning, carrying three trays of hard-boiled eggs to sell them from morning until noon.”
Naji Ahmed is overwhelmed by life's demands, struggling to manage them. No sooner does he finish paying the rent for his modest apartment than other requirements arise, leaving him in a state of confusion. This dire situation led him to decide that his son, Firas, would sell hard-boiled eggs at the market this year instead of attending school and continuing his education. The man's voice sounded broken as he concealed his disappointment about a reality he would never have chosen for Firas. However, it is the "harsh conditions" that have driven them to this point, as he repeatedly mentioned while speaking to "Khuyut."
There is no sign of joy on Firas's face as he takes on his new job as a hawker selling hard-boiled eggs—a role he has assumed due to his family's deteriorating living conditions and his father's inability to find work. Despite speaking longingly about his school and classmates, he understands the critical situation his family is facing. He approaches his work with seriousness, knowing that he plays a crucial role in meeting the family's basic needs and paying the rent for their modest apartment.
Catastrophic Consequences
In this context, UNICEF has warned in a report that Yemen faces serious challenges and a major crisis in education. The report indicated that the number of children experiencing educational disruptions could reach six million students, resulting in catastrophic consequences that threaten the future of the country's children in both the short and long term.
Actually, Firas's father, Naji Ahmed, does not know when he will be able to send his son back to school to continue his education. He links this possibility to finding a job that ensures enough income to pay the rent and meet the household's basic needs for a simple living. However, he hopes this will happen soon. Meanwhile, Firas continues to go to the market every morning, carrying three trays of hard-boiled eggs to sell them from morning until noon.
The child Firas is just one of millions of Yemeni children who are losing their future, according to UNICEF reports. He is deprived of his right to an education—the only guarantee for creating a better life—due to poverty and the economic decline caused by the ongoing war. This dire situation has left Yemenis generally in a state of anticipation, anxiously awaiting a comprehensive peace that would end the severe repercussions of the conflict. Firas exemplifies the broader tragedy affecting the country.
