Two million children out of school in Yemen: UNICEF

The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, said on Tuesday ” the  violence”  has left over two million children out of school in Yemen.

the agency’s Yemen Representative, Julien Harneis, said 350,000 children got no education last year amid the deadly violence, which led to the closure of many schools across Yemen

With last year’s figures, there are currently over two million out-of-school kids across the war-torn country, added the UNICEF official.

“Children were killed on their way to school or while at school,” Harneis said. “Parties to the conflict should keep children and schools out of harm to give education a chance

Riyadh’s military is blamed by the world body and prominent rights groups for most of the civilian deaths in the impoverished country

The country is, meanwhile, grappling with a severe food shortage amid a naval blockade imposed by Riyadh, which prevents shipments to most of its ports

According to the agency, there are 370,000 children enduring severe malnutrition in the already-impoverished nation, and 1.5 million are going hungry

Also on Tuesday, the UN’s humanitarian aid chief, Stephen O’Brien recounted his observations following a visit to the port city of al-Hudaydah in western Yemen.

“It is of course absolutely devastating when you see such terrible malnutrition,” he said, warning of “very severe needs”

Altogether, there are 28 million people short of food in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country, the UN estimates.