Yemen war is a curse for female education

Yemen war has had a direct impact on the country’s education system for seven years. According to officials and human rights activists in Yemen, girls in immigration camps are on the verge of collapse.

The war of Yemen began in September 2014. The world saw the war coming when the Houthis launched a coup d’état in Sanaa, a city of Yemen. Sana had pitted Iran’s pro-government party with the Yemeni official government and the Saudi-led Arab coalition. In a tweet on October 11, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the instability and migration caused by the Yemeni conflict had made it even more difficult for girls to continue their education. It noted that 26% of the one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Yemeni hostess are girls. They help their families cook, fetch water and take care of younger ones in the absence of their parents.

Yemen’s education crisis could rise to six million:

Yemen officials and human rights activists have emphasized the importance of assuring that girls have access to education within and outside the migration camps. NGOs and other women empowering organizations are ensuring a safe environment and access to food and health care. “It is clear that most of the girls in the camps have dropped out of school due to difficult circumstances,” said Ishraq al-Maqtari, a spokesman for the National Committee for the Investigation of Human Rights Violations. Women’s education has received little attention from authorities and humanitarian organizations.

A reporter found that many of the girls were homeless and had dropped out of school. Although the girls are interested in education, yet the IDP authorities did not provide basic educational facilities. Instead of going to school, the girls are busy helping their families find necessities, al-Maqtari said.

Instead of going to school, the girls are busy helping their families find necessities, al-Maqtari said.

According to Najeeb al-Saadi, head of the IDPs( (internally displaced persons) ) Executive Unit, some camps have provided additional educational facilities such as classrooms for both; male and female students. However, due to the repeated emigration waves and the shooting of IDP camps, the efforts were slow and postponed. The situation has had a profound effect on girls. Many Yemeni women and girls are now responsible for feeding their families since funds and aids coming their way have been reduced. Thus, credit availability is the major factor behind low educational urge for women and their families.

War for the right for education and education crises:

Education is a scarce commodity globally. In Yemen, in a few camps, such as the al-Jufaina refugee camp in Marib province, they are trying to educate Yemen girls. In al-Jufaina holds countless women and girls. The al-Jufaina administration has set up temporary classes for children to continue their education despite the problems, says a resident. Al-Zubairi said the large influx of IDPs due to the of war in neighboring Marib made it difficult for the local government to provide adequate educational facilities.

Local reporting agencies emphasized the need for international organizations to provide much-needed assistance in educating IDP children. For example conducting classes or paying teachers’ salaries.

“War is a disaster for education,” a local female educationist said. She blamed the Houthis for stopping the program in war-torn areas and provinces, such as al-Jawf, al-Bayda, Marib, and al-Hodeidah. The group also placed bombs on public places. Such terrorist behavior prevents young girls from reaching schools and receiving decent education.

The Yemen education crisis is under the veil of the modern world glamorous news. The situation is also being replicated in Afghanistan. But in this particular case, the modern reporting seems to have neglected the NEWS of the Yemen female education crisis as well as the educational crisis of Afghanistan. Therefore next time we talk about women empowerment, education, and human rights, we should include the Yemen education crisis. The female education crisis will cross six million education deprived women nation.

Sumon Banerjee

Mr. Sumon Banerjee is the chief operating officer of Ecofunomics.  Mr. Banerjee, has expertise in law, finances, and marketing.

sumon@ecofunomics.com