News - Yemen: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed that more than two million Yemeni children are unable to enroll in school as a result of the war against Yemen for eight years.

The committee said in a statement issued on Saturday on the occasion of the International Day to Protect Education from Attacks that thousands of Yemenis have been subjected to disabilities since the start of the aggression, while more than two million children are unable to attend school.

“Education is severely disrupted due to armed conflicts and other forms of violence, especially attacks and threats to students and teachers,” the statement added, confirming that 20% of primary and secondary schools are closed.

The committee pointed out that the education sector in Yemen is suffering from a severe crisis, as statistics indicate that at least one in four educational facilities were destroyed, damaged or used for non-educational purposes during the years of aggression.

In a similar report last year on the occasion of the International Day for the Protection of Education from Attack, designated by UNESCO on 9 September each year, the committee warned that depriving children of education for years would have adverse consequences in the long term, given the importance of education and the important role it plays in helping Yemen recover and advance after the war.

 In a report on the violations of the aggression during the 3,000 days, Entesaf Organization for Women and Children's Rights indicated that about 435 schools were completely destroyed. About 1,578 schools were partially damaged. The number of schools that were used as shelters for the displaced was approximately 999, in addition to the closure of about 756 schools throughout Yemen.

More than six million male and female students suffer from the collapse of the education system as a result of the aggression and siege. 196 thousand and 197 male and female teachers have not received their salaries regularly since 2016, which puts an additional four million children at risk of losing education.

“The number of children who face interruption from education may increase to six million children. 8.1 million children need emergency educational assistance across the country,” it added.

The report also said that two million and 400 thousand children are out of school out of ten million and 600 thousand of school age. 31% of Yemen's girls are out of school as a result of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and the inability of families to provide basic education needs.