Childhood on Crutches

In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, the magnitude of the tragedy is not measured solely by the number of lives lost, but by those who have survived with incomplete bodies. The war, and specifically the dense proliferation of landmines, has left behind an entire generation of disabled children, transforming playgrounds and school routes into fields of death and ambush.

This article highlights the profound impact of the war and its remnants on the rising rates of disability among Yemen's children.

1. Landmines: The Hidden and Lurking Killer

Landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are the primary and most tragic cause of permanent disabilities among children in Yemen.

• Fatal Childhood Curiosity: Children are naturally inclined to play and explore strange objects. In many areas, mines have been camouflaged to resemble rocks or even toys, making children the demographic most vulnerable to this danger.

• Grazing and Play Areas: Mines have been planted in vital areas such as valleys, farms, and around water wells—places children often visit to herd sheep or fetch water. This has led to a spike in amputations (particularly of the lower limbs) and loss of eyesight.

• Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): Even during periods of relative calm, unexploded shells and cluster munitions remain a looming threat. When tampered with, they often explode, causing severe burns, deformities, and debilitating mobility impairments.

2. Collapse of the Healthcare System: When Injury Becomes Disability

The causes of disability are not limited to direct injury alone; they are exacerbated by the total collapse of the health sector.

• Absence of First Aid: Due to rugged terrain and the destruction of roads and bridges, the arrival of injured children at hospitals is often critically delayed. Consequently, doctors are frequently forced to amputate limbs to save a life, rather than treating the limb itself.

• Shortage of Rehabilitation Centers: Yemen suffers from a severe scarcity of prosthetic and physiotherapy centers. A growing child who loses a leg may wait years for a prosthetic that fits their growth, leading to spinal deformities and difficulty reintegrating into society.

3. Malnutrition and Siege: The "Invisible" Disabilities

Beyond the physical disabilities caused by violence, the war has spawned another category of impairment:

• Stunting and Poor Growth: The siege and extreme poverty have led to acute malnutrition among children. This results in stunted physical growth, cognitive delays, and permanent intellectual disabilities.

• Lack of Vaccines: The disruption of vaccination campaigns has led to the resurgence of diseases that were previously eradicated, such as Polio, causing permanent paralysis for thousands of children.

4. Psychological and Social Impact

Disability in wartime is not just physical pain; it is often a sentence of social isolation.

• Educational Dropout: Schools that are destroyed or unequipped to accommodate students with special needs mean that most disabled children are denied their right to education.

• Compounded Trauma: These children suffer from complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—the trauma of the explosion combined with the trauma of losing a body part. This often leads to severe withdrawal and social isolation, which further aggravates their disability.

Conclusion

The increasing number of disabled children in Yemen is not merely a side statistic of the war; it is a looming disaster that threatens the fabric of Yemeni society for decades to come. These children do not only need a ceasefire; they require a comprehensive rescue plan that includes demining, the provision of prosthetics, and physical and psychological rehabilitation, ensuring that their disability does not become a life sentence of misery.