Harsh Life

Saba via Armies of Liberation:

UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Sigrid Kaag confirmed on Saturday the UNICEF's interest to support plans and programs of Yemeni government to improve children and women's status in Yemen.

A stunning statistic:

The UNICEF really care for Yemeni children, she said, adding that we seek to reduce children labor in Yemen, which reached 60 percent among children under age 18.

I wonder just how many are full-time workers? That would imply they're not going to school at all. If many are part-time laborers, then that's not a worrying situation.

Comments

[Jane]

Question about Yemen?

K, about half of school age Yemeni kids are not in school, over 2 million. About 30 percent of men are illiterate and a staggering 75 percent of women. One reason females dont go to school is they are needed to haul water. Women in Yemen spend an average of sever hours a day getting water. There's a water plan but corruption has impacted it. Much water is also diverted for qat production, and the plantations are owned by "influential persons". The kids work becasue the families are very poor, this is also a leading cause of child trafficing to Saudi Arabia. Most is done with the consent of the parents.

Thanks for the link. Sorry to rant but I cant help it.

[Isaac Schrödinger]

I don't think that qualifies as a rant. You have to do better in the future!

Seriously, I didn't know it was that bad ... half of the kids not being in school. In addition, Yemen has one of the highest birth rates in the world; how can mothers pass on much knowledge when they themselves are largely illiterate?