In pictures: The plight of Yemen's children

Ahmed Shahadi, 12, works behind the counter of the jewellery shop in Sanaa. Twenty-one per cent of boys and a quarter of girls have dropped out of school so they can work full time or are working part time. Photos by Lindsay Mackenzie for The National

Hamas Hajiri 8, tries to sell tissues to passing drivers at a junction in downtown Sanaa. She is one of six siblings who work or beg at the Safia intersection.

Hamas Hajiri's mother says she doesn't want her children to work, but says worsening cash and food shortages since the anti-Saleh uprising last year has forced all of her family to work or beg.

Hamas Hajiri with her father Khalid.

The reflection of three girls from the Hajiri family selling tissues to passing drivers at an intersection in downtown Sanaa.

Yasmin Hajiri, 10, was pulled from school by her mother three months ago to work. Her family eats, at best, a tomato and bread for breakfast and lunch. As of January, 58 per cent of Yemen’s 3.8 million children under age 5 are stunted in terms of weight, height and cognitive development. After Afghanistan, Yemen has the highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world.

According to Unicef, in urban areas, 28 per cent of children under age 18 and 35 per cent in rural areas are forced by their families to marry, usually for financial reasons.

Rashid Adaad, 15, sells candles in Sanaa's Old City 12 hours a day after dropping out of school.