Ankara: More than 137,000 school-aged children in Yemen are facing major disruptions to their education amid the ongoing conflict, UNICEF said Monday. The UN children's agency highlighted the urgent need for intervention as the escalation of violence continues to impact the nation's youth.

According to Anadolu Agency, UNICEF's response teams are actively setting up 20 child-friendly spaces and temporary classrooms to mitigate the educational disruption. Additionally, the agency is providing essential protection services to support affected children during these turbulent times. The situation underscores the vulnerability of children caught in conflict zones, with UNICEF emphasizing that "children shouldn't lose their future to conflict."

The agency reported that renewed fighting had compelled families to flee their homes in western Taiz province and districts along Yemen's western coast. In collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF is offering emergency assistance to over 14,000 newly displaced individuals, aiming to address the immediate needs of these populations.

The escalation in hostilities marks a significant shift in the conflict landscape, as confrontations between Yemen's internationally recognized government forces and the Houthis have intensified since early July. This resurgence in fighting follows years of relative calm and adds a new layer of complexity to the war that has ravaged the country since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces in 2014. The turmoil prompted a Saudi-led Arab coalition to intervene in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government, further entrenching the conflict.