Peter Hawkins, UNICEF’s representative in Yemen, warned that the 4.5 million Yemeni children out of school represent a “ticking time bomb” threatening the country’s future. He explained that their lack of education could result in a new generation lacking essential skills like literacy and numeracy, which would have negative consequences for Yemen’s development in the coming years.

Hawkins also stated that UNICEF is actively working to improve the educational situation in Yemen by rehabilitating 1,116 schools and motivating 38,000 teachers to resume their work. However, he noted that the ongoing conflict continues to damage educational institutions and hinder the organization’s efforts.

After over nine years of conflict, 18.2 million people in Yemen still require humanitarian aid, with 17.6 million expected to face food insecurity in 2024, according to UN estimates.