{
  "id": 12328515,
  "title": "Children brave snipers and mortars to go to school near Yemen front line",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/children-brave-snipers-and-mortars-to-go-to-school-near-yemen-front-12328515",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T07:23:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c670pzpv9gk4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Every morning, 10-year-old Rafeef and her younger brother prepare for school in Taiz, Yemen. They don their uniforms and eagerly anticipate seeing their friends and learning various subjects. Rafeef eagerly anticipates starting English lessons in the upcoming year. However, her journey to school involves significant risks. The school is perched atop a mountain, bordered by a contested region known as no-man's land, where Houthi snipers are positioned. Rafeef's home resides on the mountain, necessitating an uphill walk facing the snipers. She expresses her fears, stating, \"I'm afraid.\" According to UNICEF, approximately 3.2 million children in Yemen were out of school prior to the escalation of the war. Since the conflict began in 2014, countless children have been killed, injured, or forcibly enlisted by armed groups on both sides. Undeterred by the dangers, Rafeef insists she wishes to continue attending school, as it offers her the chance to be with her peers and pursue her dreams. She aspires to become a doctor. Rafeef's family relocated to Taiz nine years ago, fleeing the coastal city of Hudaydah when the Houthi forces took control. Two years ago, a mortar attack struck her new home, leaving her and her brother unscathed but her arm injured and scarred. Recently, the conflict has intensified, with Houthis cutting off a crucial supply route connecting Taiz to Aden, effectively encircling the city. Government forces have made gains elsewhere, retaking strategic points near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping chokepoint. Yemeni military claims to have secured the Red Sea waterway. Rafeef's school has faced gunfire, and a teacher, Abdel Raqeeb al-Obaidi, provides a frightening account of the ongoing danger. The school stands amidst Houthi military camps and sniper positions in the mountains. One night, a mortar strike hospitalized two children, one of whom tragically died. Another 11-year-old boy, Amjad, is critically ill following shrapnel injuries sustained at a mechanic's shop where he worked with his uncle. His mother arrives at the hospital, seeking solace and answers. The situation in Taiz, a long-standing battleground during the civil war, remains volatile, with Houthis employing drones in their latest offensive.",
  "summary": "In rare access to Taiz, the BBC World Service speaks to children, teachers and families affected by the war.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Children brave snipers and mortars to go to school near Yemen front line",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/children-brave-snipers-and-mortars-to-go-to-school-near-yemen-front",
        "published": "2026-10-06T07:23:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}