Child soldiers in Yemen enter rehab programmes

Dozens of children pressed into fighting for Iran-backed Houthi militias have been transferred to Yemeni forces to be rehabilitated through Saudi-funded programmes.

The rebels recruited and sent the youths to the northern front, where 27 were captured by Saudi forces last week.

The handover was carried out by the International Red Cross and the Saudi Red Crescent authorities in Marib province, Saba Net reported.

The Houthis began storming public schools in rebel-held areas earlier this month to recruit, and kidnap, pupils.

Pro-government forces captured 50 soldiers on January 8 and found 30 to be underage – some as young as 10 years old.

The area’s police chief said the Houthis’ use of child soldiers across Yemen is a sign of their disregard for moral values and a direct breach of international law.

He said the youths in police custody would be cared for in line with guidelines set by the humanitarian organisations present.

The King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Affairs is working on a project to rehabilitate children conscripted in the war. More than 80 have been rehabilitated in the centre after serving tours with the Houthi militias.

Saudi Arabia is also working on rebuilding infrastructure. On Wednesday, Maeen Abdulmalik, the Yemeni Minister of Public Works and Highway Control, signed an agreement with the Saudi embassy to build roads to speed up delivery of humanitarian aid.

“This project will provide nearly 15,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities,” the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jabir, said on Twitter.