2 Aug 2025
Yemen
Save the Children's local partner in Yemen, The National Union for the Development of the Poor (NUDP), released a new report today exposing the devastating impact of poverty, discrimination, and displacement on the lives of Muhamasheen children in Yemen. Many of these children are denied education and forced into hazardous work to help their families’ survive.
The report draws on real stories from the children themselves. These testimonies highlight daily suffering that statistics alone fail to convey, putting a human face on the experiences of Muhamasheen children striving for education and a dignified life against the odds.
Titled “Out of School and Into Harm’s Way: Voices of Muhamasheen Children,” the report compiles first-hand accounts of children who face exclusion, humiliation, and danger every day simply because of their identity and circumstances. While the decade-long conflict in Yemen has affected all Yemenis, the Muhamasheen—often disparagingly called “Al-Akhdam”—remain among the most marginalized and at-risk communities.
“We work because we have no choice. We want to go to school, but we have no option,” say Lama and Amal, two young sisters in Lahj governorate, who scavenge scrap metal amid the remnants of war to help support their family.
The report notes that Muhamasheen children are three times more likely to drop out of school than their peers, with an estimated 98% not completing primary education. Discrimination, administrative obstacles, forced displacement, and harmful social norms—especially those affecting girls—further deepen their marginalization.
For girls, education is often replaced by early marriage. “People say that if a girl learns to read and write, that is more than enough,” says Ghada (18) from Al-Dhale’. Despite this, Ghada defied expectations, completed high school, and dreams of becoming a midwife.
The report also shares examples of hope and resilience. Children like Khalil (16) are demanding change. “Education is the only way to change how people see us. If Muhamasheen children can become teachers, doctors, and lawyers, people will have to respect us,” Khalil says.
The National Union for the Development of the Poor calls on local authorities, donors, and humanitarian actors to prioritize the rights of Muhamasheen children and remove the barriers they face in accessing education and protection from risks linked to dropping out of school, including:
Ensuring Muhamasheen children have access to inclusive and safe education.
Reforming civil documentation procedures to prevent denial of school enrollment.
Expanding financial support programs and flexible learning options for displaced children.
Strengthening child protection services to prevent their engagement in hazardous work.
Launching community dialogues and awareness campaigns to combat discrimination.
“For Muhamasheen children, education is a shield,” says Fatima (18), who teaches dozens of children and mothers in her village.
Salah Dabwan, Secretary-General of the National Union for the Development of the Poor, states:
“The education of Muhamasheen children is among our highest priorities. These children endure extreme poverty, chronic marginalization, and persistent discrimination that deprive them of their basic right to learn. Many are forced to work in the streets—collecting scrap, cleaning, or begging—exposing them to daily risks of physical harm and exploitation. We are committed to working with partners to ensure every child in Yemen has a fair chance to learn and build a better future for themselves and their families.”
