Sana'a: A Unicef report has said that more than 15 per cent of fighters for the Al Houthi rebels and tribal militias in northern Yemen were under 18 years old.
Some 68 per cent of the children interviewed have been subjected to domestic violence, said the report which covered the five conflict-affected areas of Sa'ada, Hajjah, Amran, Al Jawf and Sana'a.
The report said eight per cent of all abused children admitted exposure to sexual exploitation perpetrated by host communities, aid workers and others.
Some 21 per cent of children reported that they saw someone being injured or wounded, Of the displaced and affected families 2.1 per cent indicated that at least one of their children is still missing.
The report, the First Inter-Agency Comprehensive Child Protection Assessment Report in Conflict Affected Areas in the north of Yemen, said illiteracy was very high among parents of the children.
Some 73 per cent of fathers and 85 per cent of mothers are illiterate, the report said.
Matter of concern
The Yemen-based Unicef representative Geert Cappelaere commented on the report by saying: "The content of the report must be a matter of concern for all players in the humanitarian and development landscape."
The report highlights key issues regarding killings, injuries, disabilities, recruitment, detention, domestic violence, separation, abuse as well as sexual and economic exploitation of children.
It also highlighted key recommendations for follow-up to ensure the protection of children from all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
"There is an urgent need to unify all efforts between the government of Yemen, UN agencies, and NGOs to assume their responsibilities and address the recommendations of the study," said the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Dr Amat Al Razzaq Hummad.
Disturbing findings
- 15% of Al Houthi fighters were children
- 68% children victims of domestic violence
