The family of the young man, Fathi Al-Sam’ee, never expected that his life would end in tragedy when he decided to join the battlefronts along the southern borders of Saudi Arabia. Fathi, in his twenties, joined the Midi Front (north of Hajjah Governorate), where he fought for four years before being killed by a projectile. His family never had the chance to bid him a final farewell.
His mother recounts with sorrow, "Fathi went to Midi because the salary there was substantial, at a time when there was no work in the country. We missed him for a long time, not knowing where he was until he reached the border. He spent four years there and returned to the village only once. But when he went back to Midi again, that was the last time; we couldn’t even visit him or bury him near his family."
Political Decline
Yemen has witnessed a severe decline in youth participation in political life after the Houthi group took control of large parts of the country, freezing the transitional and peaceful process. Consequently, this decline has opened the door to the forced recruitment of young people by armed factions, making them easy targets for the financial incentives offered by these groups, especially amidst the deteriorating economic and living conditions for most families.
Moreover, youth and children are the most susceptible to the influence of extremist and sectarian ideologies. Amidst widespread poverty and unemployment, they have become the most affected group, driven by circumstances to seek income sources to support and feed themselves and their families. However, the armed groups have found this situation an opportunity to exploit them, using various temptations but ultimately leading them to destruction and death.
Therefore, the deteriorating conditions have forced many young people to abandon education and vocational training, as well as to withdraw from political and cultural activities. With a lack of job opportunities and government services, their choices have been narrowed to a stark dilemma: either die on the battlefront or succumb to hunger at home. Consequently, most have opted for the first choice, driven by financial incentives and the harsh realities of their circumstances.
Over the past decade, the youth in Yemen have found themselves as fuel for a senseless war, with no signs of its imminent end. While the warring factions divide and share the spoils, gains, and positions of power among themselves, the youth are left to endure oppression, poverty, death, and disability.
“He sustained a severe injury after a wall they were hiding behind collapsed during a powerful storm. Later, after being transported to the hospital, his treatment was greatly delayed, leading to a deterioration in his health and resulting in paralysis.”
Returning with Disabilities
Abdullatif Hummana is one of the young individuals who paid a high price when he attempted to join the "Guardians of the Republic" forces led by Tariq Saleh, a member of the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council. However, unfortunately, he returned paralyzed before he could complete his recruitment.
In the Al-Khokha area of Al-Hodeidah Governorate, while young people were gathering for recruitment, Abdul Latif Hummana, who was among them, sustained a severe injury when a wall they were hiding behind collapsed during a powerful storm. Later, after being transported to the hospital, there was a significant delay in his treatment, which led to a deterioration in his condition and resulted in paralysis.
Before attempting to join Tarek’s forces, Abdullatif worked in the painting and decorating profession and relied on other freelance jobs to support himself and his family. However, with the worsening economic conditions, he found himself compelled to join the forces supported by the second party in the Arab Coalition (the United Arab Emirates).
Abdullatif says, "Job opportunities are no longer available as they were before the war, and life has become difficult. The circumstances forced me to join this military faction to secure a livelihood for my family, along with my desire to join the resistance forces, just as my colleagues and friends did before me."
Nevertheless, Abdullatif had no idea that this decision would change his life forever. After his injury, he was transferred to the field hospital affiliated with Tariq Saleh's forces, where he stayed for three days without receiving the necessary treatment. Once his condition was finally diagnosed, it was revealed that he suffered a fracture in his right thigh. However, the delay in treatment led to the worsening of his condition, and resulted in his suffering from partial paralysis.
He spoke about his suffering after the injury, saying: "I was transferred to Aden for treatment, but I faced great difficulties in obtaining the necessary care. After undergoing a CT scan, it was found that I had a spinal fracture and pressure on the spinal cord, which necessitated my transfer to Cairo for surgery to stabilize the affected vertebra. Although my condition improved slightly, I was forced to return to Yemen before completing my treatment abroad."
Abdullatif concludes with bitterness: "I went to join Tarek Saleh’s forces on foot, but returned paralyzed and unable to move. After a long period of suffering, I returned to my home in the city of Hays, but my health condition deteriorated further, and I began to suffer from skin sores and continued deterioration."
“Religious, regional, and tribal groups view the youth as a reservoir of manpower to provide fighters and supporters. Consequently, they make a concerted effort to recruit young people to join their ranks.”
The Most Targeted Group
Actually, Abdullatif was not alone in this suffering; there are many others like him who share similar fates, including Nizar Al-Absi, a young man in his twenties who was abducted twice by the Houthi group from one of their checkpoints in Taiz. His mother, Iftikar Al-Absi, points out that her son was a victim of a war he had no connection to. He was thrown into the prisons of the City of Saleh in Al-Houban and emerged with severe psychological trauma due to the torture and suffering he endured.
Nizar is one of many young people whose dreams have been shattered by the war, leaving them displaced, lost, or recruited as soldiers in the ranks of the conflicting parties.
In this context, social researcher Aiban Al-Sam’ee explains that youth are the most influential and prominent group in Yemeni society, making them the most targeted by armed groups. Al-Sam’ee points out that religious, regional, and tribal groups view the youth as a reservoir of manpower that provides them with fighters and supporters. Consequently, they are keen to recruit them into their ranks.
He further confirms that youth, especially males, are the most involved in and affected by the war. He also adds that the war has turned many young people into its fuel, leading to increased rates of fatalities, injuries, and physical disabilities among them.
Al-Sam’ee highlights that the only solution to end this ongoing bloodshed and exploitation of youth is to stop the war and create decent job opportunities that match their skills and qualifications. He asserts that Yemeni youth should play a role in building their country's future, away from the conflicts that have turned them into victims. There is a need to end this tragedy and work towards providing a safe and stable environment for the youth that fulfills their aspirations and dreams.
