Jeddah – The Yemeni government is willing to establish a center to take care of children captives who were recruited by Houthi insurgents. The purpose of the center is to rehabilitate the children after the great damage caused to them due to being obliged to carry out military affairs unsuitable for their ages.

Yemeni Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mohammad Askar told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government has monitored 2,000 cases of children recruitment by Houthis in Aden, Taiz, Ma’rib, al-Jawf and Dhale.

He noted that initial estimates show that 10,000 children in Yemen were recruited by militias.

Some media reports estimated the number of mobilized children as 15,000.

Currently, work is ongoing to establish a center to take care of captives who were recruited by Houthis.

The minister added, “The center will enable children to continue their education in internal classes in addition to teaching them and training them over a craft that helps them proceed with their lives in the future.”

Askar pointed out that based on the suggested plan, a center will be established in Aden with the capacity of 2,000 children, knowing that more branches will be opened in regions near conflict zones. Every branch is to accommodate between 200 to 300 children.

Askar added that despite the challenges facing human rights in the current time, the Ministry of Human Rights is lending all efforts to enhance humanitarian conditions inside Yemen and to grant the Yemeni citizen his rights.

In this regard, the minister noted that Yemen has signed an agreement with international organizations to prevent children recruitment – this agreement was not respected by Houthis.