Yemen’s child drivers forced to work as war devastates families

By Yunus Hocaoglu and Seda Sevencan

YEMEN/ISTANBUL (AA) - In war-torn Yemen, children as young as 13 are taking the wheel of commercial vehicles to support their families, as the ongoing civil war and economic hardship leave many households without a primary breadwinner.

Some children aged 13 to 15 are forced to drive after losing their fathers in the war or witnessing them being disabled during the conflict, which has driven them into extreme poverty.

Khalil Sasaga, 13, said he learned to drive from his father and now works to help his family after migrating to Marib from another city.

"I work to support my father and family," Sasaga told Anadolu. "Normally, my father drives a minibus, and I do the same to help him and earn money. So far, I haven’t had any problems in traffic. The crowded roads and heavy traffic don’t bother me."

Mursi Muhammed Salih Zevid, also 13, works in passenger transport and said he had to learn to drive out of necessity.

"I learned to drive to support my family, and I share my income with them. Even though the roads are busy, I don’t face any problems," he said. "I’m just trying to earn a living."

Muhammed Ammar Mebhut Cehlen, 15, said his father is disabled. "I drive to help support my family. Since I started driving, my family’s income and quality of life improved."

Yemen has been in turmoil since the Iran-backed Houthi group captured the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country in 2014 from the Yemeni government.