The Yemeni Teachers' Union has exposed a devastating situation facing educators in Yemen, with over 350 teachers still detained in Houthi militia prisons and tens of thousands more without salaries for over 9 years.
In a statement marking World Teachers' Day (October 5, 2025), the union revealed that teachers in Houthi-controlled areas endure unimaginable suffering due to unpaid salaries, leading to severe economic and psychological distress.
The union's monitoring report from 2014-2021 documented over 3,500 teachers killed or injured by Houthi militia, prompting calls for international action against these blatant human rights violations.
Even in government-controlled areas, teachers face economic hardship despite relatively regular salary payments, as wages barely cover basic needs amidst soaring prices and currency devaluation.
The union urgently demands that the Presidential Leadership Council and government ensure regular salary payments, increase wages to match living costs, and provide a safe educational environment.
Additionally, they call on the UN Envoy to pressure Houthi militia to release detained teachers, pay all salaries without conditions, and halt abuses against educators.