Relentless fighting sparked when Houthi forces seized key access roads and territory on 4 October, effectively shutting all public schools in Taiz city and nearby rural districts. Families are sheltering in interior hallways for days to survive regular bombardment from clashes and air raids. Nationwide casualties between August and late October reached 1,677 deaths and 7,395 injuries, according to the World Health Organization. Cut off from normal routines, children are manifesting severe trauma through bedwetting, anger, nightmares, and constant fear of dying.
Key points
Houthi forces escalated the regional crisis by seizing access roads to Taiz city and vast…: Houthi forces escalated the regional crisis by seizing access roads to Taiz city and vast portions of the governorate.
Prolonged indoor confinement is severely harming youth, causing behavioral changes, night…: Prolonged indoor confinement is severely harming youth, causing behavioral changes, nightmares, bedwetting, and acute anxiety.
Older children confined to hallways spend their days consuming wartime media while contem…: Older children confined to hallways spend their days consuming wartime media while contemplating their immediate vulnerability to death.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
In October, as clashes reached Taghreed Abdulellah’s area, located about 30km from Yemen's Taiz city, the mother of three found herself unable to flee with her children, as battles had already broken out in their village.
She had no choice but to gather her children, aged four, seven and 10, in the hallway to protect them from potential blasts or shrapnel coming through the windows.
“Their father wasn’t at home; it was just them and me. The clashes were outside, and an explosion went off right near our home, leaving the children terrified and crying for hours,” Abdulellah told Middle East Eye.
“I couldn’t stop them from crying; in fact, I broke down and joined them at times.”
When the fighting quieted down, the children would stop crying, and some neighbours visited to boost their morale.
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However, as soon as the battles flared up again, the crying resumed.
“This continued for four days until the fierce battles…
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