Children brave snipers and mortars to go to school near front line
Children in Taiz, Yemen, face extreme danger while traveling to school, navigating a front line between government forces and Houthi rebels. Despite the constant threat of snipers and mortar attacks, students like 10-year-old Rafeef continue to attend classes in pursuit of an education.
Why it matters
The story highlights the devastating humanitarian impact of the Yemeni civil war on the country's youth and their access to basic rights.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Nawal Al-Maghafi Taiz, Yemen 'We are terrified but we want to get an education', say Yemeni schoolgirls Every morning at 6am, 10-year-old Rafeef and her younger brother get ready for school, putting on their cream and brown uniforms.
She always looks forward to seeing her friends and learning about everything from maths to Arabic and Islamic studies. She can't wait to start studying English next year.
But for Rafeef, the journey to school involves far greater risks than crossing roads or missing the bus.
Her school in Taiz, south-western Yemen, stands on a mountain at the edge of a valley known as no-man's land - a heavily contested front line in the civil war between forces supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Iran-backed Houthis.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in