Almotamar.net - The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and UNICEF in collaboration with the Situation Analysis (SitAn) Steering Committee launched on Tuesday the 2014 Situation Analysis of Children in Yemen Report.

After fifteen years of the previous Analysis, the Report showed that the children constitute over 50% of Yemen's population.

It highlighted that girls are disadvantaged in many ways, topped by early marriages and drop out of school.

"Many girls are forced into early marriages. Fewer girls than boys are enrolled in school. More girls than boys drop out of school. Very few women go on to become teachers, health staff, court officials or police. One in three maternal deaths is of adolescent females."

The report showed that the lack of female medical staff in most health facilities reduces the women access to medical services, especially for adolescent girls.

"Though there has been some progress in legislation and policy development in Yemen, this has not yet translated into the fulfillment of the rights of children, especially girls," says Julien Harneis UNICEF Representative. "What is needed is country wide community dialogue and empowerment in addressing social norms and values detrimental to certain girl's rights to ensure a sustainable response in addressing harmful traditional practices."

According to the report, Yemen remains one of the most water-stressed Arab countries, with rapid decline in water resources and just over half (53%) of households have improved sanitation facilities. Open defecation remains the practice in at least 20% of households and almost half (47%) of schools are built without any water, sanitation or hygiene facilities.

It also revealed that Nutrition remains a complex mix of emergency and chronic underdevelopment. 43% of under-5 children in Yemen are underweight and 19% are severely underweight, the highest rate in the world. Between 2009 and 2011, the proportion of Yemeni households suffering food insecurity grew from 32 to 45 %, with the proportion in extreme insecurity almost doubling (12 to 22 %, 27 % rural); with national poverty levels at fifty four per cent.

"One tool that is useful for improving the situation of girls and other vulnerable children is cash transfers," Mr. Harneis emphasized. "We have found that cash transfers can be used to; increase school attendance, improve nutritional status and increase the use of health centers. Whether these transfers are means tested or are universal they have shown themselves to be an effective safety net for societies most vulnerable," Harneis concluded.

Launching the Report, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Mohammed al-Sa'adi stated that "The results from this research are a wakeup call to the dire situation of children in Yemen and this must inform and frame programme development and implementation by all players for the wellbeing of children."