JINHA

NEWS CENTER – According to Unicef Yemen representative Julian Harneis, almost one in three fighters in the conflict in Yemen are children.

Julain said that from Unicef's observations on the ground, they have seen children operating checkpoints but also fighting on the frontlines in the conflict on all sides. Since March 26, at least 77 children have died in Yemen. Many of them have died while fighting, while others have been killed in bombings and clashes that affect civilian areas.

The economic impacts of the war also threaten to escalate the already high levels of malnutrition in Yemen, which has the highest levels of hunger and malnutrition in the Middle East. Julian said that last year 48% of children in the country faced malnutrition, but with the limitations on water and food and the total shutdown of state services, this number would rise.

Julian called on all parties in the conflict to end tactics of war that affect children.

(cm)