What happened
In the city of Taiz, Yemen, children are bravely attending school despite the risks of sniper fire and mortar attacks from the ongoing civil war. 10-year-old Rafeef and her younger brother make the perilous journey to school every morning, walking uphill with their backs towards Houthi sniper positions.
Rafeef's school is located near the front line, with government-held territory on one side and Houthi positions on the other. According to Unicef, roughly 3.2 million children in Yemen were out of school even before the war escalated, and thousands have been killed or maimed since the conflict began in 2014.
Despite the dangers, Rafeef is determined to continue her education, hoping to become a doctor one day. Her parents, who moved to Taiz seeking safety, are keen for her to get an education and have a better life. However, the conflict has intensified in recent days, with the Houthis cutting off a vital supply route and encircling the city.
Residents are afraid that the Houthis could seize the city at any moment, and homes in Taiz have been abandoned by families fleeing the fighting. At Rafeef's school, teachers and students are aware of the risks, with one teacher showing the rooftop where Houthi military camps and sniper positions are visible.
The situation is dire, with civilians often caught in the crossfire. A recent mortar strike killed a three-year-old boy, Ahmed, and injured an 11-year-old boy, Amjad, who is currently in critical condition. The conflict has become routine for many in Taiz, but the risk of violence is always present, and the future is uncertain.
