Key facts
- Children in Taiz, Yemen, face sniper fire and mortar attacks en route to school.
- Rafeef, a 10-year-old student, walks uphill towards snipers daily.
- Thousands of children have been killed or maimed in Yemen's civil war since 2014.
- Rafeef's family fled Hudaydah nine years ago due to Houthi advances.
- Rafeef was injured by shrapnel two years ago during a mortar attack.
- Two children were injured and one killed by a mortar strike near the school.
Children in Taiz, Yemen, are navigating extreme dangers to attend school, with one 10-year-old, Rafeef, describing her daily walk uphill towards Houthi sniper positions. Her school is situated in a valley known as no-man's land, a contested front line in Yemen's civil war.
Rafeef's family moved to Taiz from Hudaydah nine years ago seeking safety, but Taiz itself has endured significant fighting. Two years ago, Rafeef was injured by shrapnel from a mortar attack near her home. Despite the risks, Rafeef expresses a strong desire to continue her education, valuing the opportunity to see her friends and hope for a better future.
Recent escalations in the conflict have intensified the danger. The Houthis have cut off a vital supply route to Aden, effectively encircling Taiz, leading to fears of the city being seized. Government forces have reported gains in other areas, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Residents have reported shootings by snipers in Rafeef's neighborhood.
A teacher at Rafeef's school pointed out Houthi military positions visible from the rooftop, and a security adviser warned of the danger from snipers. The school has reportedly been fired upon before.
Tragically, a mortar strike near the school resulted in the death of three-year-old Ahmed, who was with his father at a mechanic's shop. Another boy, 11-year-old Amjad, was critically injured by shrapnel in the same incident and remains in intensive care. His mother made an eight-hour journey to reach him at the hospital.