Millions of Yemeni children still endure displacement, hunger after years of war

The crisis in Yemen has upturned the lives of children across Yemen, disrupting education during their formative years and leaving many in a state of constant fright.

Millions of minors in the Middle Eastern country face a childhood defined by displacement, hunger, and survival. After more than a decade of conflict that has led to severe malnutrition and the collapse of essential services, young people are growing up knowing more about survival than stability.

In Yemen's capital city Sana'a, 11-year-old Rafiq Ahmed Abdo was forced to leave school because his family could no longer survive without his help.

Now, he spends his days selling prickly pears under the scorching sun on the streets of Sana'a. On a good day, after an exhausting 12 hours of work, he earns around 1,500 Yemeni riyals, or less than seven U.S. dollars.

"The war prevented us from continuing our education. I regret leaving school, but the situation forced me to do it. I want to return to school so that I can achieve my dreams to become a doctor," Abdo said.

His story, echoed across the country, reflects the reality facing an entire generation of Yemeni children whose lives have been shaped by conflict, deprivation, and uncertainty.

According to United Nations estimates, around 7.4 million children across Yemen are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection.

"There are still children dying today -- a slow death today caused by the effects of the war. They are also suffering due to the lack of medicine, the closure of Sanaa Airport, and the closure of land crossings, which have prevented access to medicine for Yemenis," said Ahmed Abu Hamra, head of the Ayn Al-Insaniya Center for Rights and Development in Sanaa.

Apart from physical ailments, the anxiety of living in a war-torn environment has left an equally devastating psychological impact on many young Yemenis.

"A large number of children suffer from bedwetting. Some suffer from sleep disorders. Others live in fear of loud sounds because of aircraft, bombs, and explosions," said Ali Taysir, head of the National Authority for Human Rights in Sanaa.

Millions of Yemeni children still endure displacement, hunger after years of war

Millions of Yemeni children still endure displacement, hunger after years of war

Colorful events have been held across China ahead of the International Children's Day on Monday to celebrate childhood and spark young imaginations .

At Beijing's landmark Beihai Park, choirs from regions and provinces across the nations such as Xinjiang and Qinghai joined their peers in the capital city in lively performances, creating a joyful musical feast. Meanwhile, children also learned to appreciate the charm of Chinese traditional culture through interactive crafts and heritage performances at a culture experience area.

At a humanoid robot center in central China's Hubei Province, children explored robotics on this weekend as volunteers turned complex technology into child-friendly language, sparking their curiosity and imagination.

"I want to be a scientist in the future, and invent better robots to help my mom with housework and my dad with car repairs," said Huang Xiaoyin, a pupil.

In Siyang, a county in east China's Jiangsu Province, local children attended a mock trial class to enhance their legal knowledge on the special occasion.

Family fun challenges were held in Xiong'an New Area in north China's Hebei Province to celebrate the festival. The area also showcased achievements in building a child-friendly city.

Meanwhile, children brought their textbooks to life on stage, performing plays that added a creative twist to the celebrations.

Colorful activities held across China to celebrate Int'l Children's Day