Global General

Children's suffering increases amid Yemen instability

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-02 14:36

SANAA - As many kids around the world celebrated International Children's Day, children in Yemen were experiencing hard times due to the instability in the country.

Since February, there have been fierce battles between the army and fighters loyal to Sadeq al-Ahmer, the sheikh of the most powerful tribal coalition in the country, as well as escalating anti-government protests and active al-Qaida elements in southern and eastern provinces.

Many families with children have fled the conflict and troubled areas while some were killed and tortured.

In the battles between the army and al-Ahmer's fighters in the capital Sanaa, a number of civilians were killed, including five children, according to statistics from local media reports.

In their demonstrations for change and freedom, people have been demanding the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and many fathers rush to present their kids to the stages where organizers and protesters deliver speeches and chant slogans.

Also, as many schools are closed due to the persistent unrest, children are being taken to public squares instead every day.

UNICEF called on all political parties to protect children from violence and avoid engaging them in the disputes of the adult world.

Citing media reports that children had been injured or even killed in the clashes, Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF representative in Yemen, said, "the reports were a source of big worries for the UNICEF, especially as riots or violent unrest expose the health, protection and education of children in Yemen to danger and double their suffering."

Cappelaere urged all political parties concerned to safeguard children's rights and be committed to protecting them from violent activities that may undermine their physical and mental health.

Also, a number of local organizations fear that the number of child victims could increase in case violence persists, at a time when many children are still present in the squares of change and freedom across the country.

For his part, Najeeb al-Awlaki, a journalist who specializes in social issues, warned against the presence and participation of children in the squares thronged with angry crowds. "I saw large numbers of children in the protest squares," al-Awlaki said. "Our fears grow as more children could be killed or injured."