Children in Taiz, south-western Yemen, are navigating active front lines to attend school, facing risks from snipers and mortar attacks. Ten-year-old Rafeef, whose school is located on a mountain at the edge of a contested valley, walks to class with her back towards Houthi sniper positions. She expressed fear but continues to attend school to see her friends and pursue an education.
The conflict in the region has intensified, with a vital supply route linking Taiz to Aden recently cut by Houthis, effectively encircling the city. Residents have expressed fears that Houthis could seize Taiz at any moment. Government forces have reportedly made gains in other areas this week.
The dangers of the conflict were highlighted by a recent mortar strike that killed three-year-old Ahmed and critically injured 11-year-old Amjad. Ahmed died after shrapnel pierced his heart, while Amjad sustained injuries to his lung and abdomen and remains in critical condition after surgery.
According to Unicef, around 3.2 million children in Yemen were out of school before the recent escalation of the war. Thousands of children have reportedly been killed or maimed since the war began in 2014, with thousands more recruited by armed groups.