The Yemeni government announced that Houthis have destroyed the lives of more than four million children, forcing most of them to look for work due to dire economic and humanitarian situations. The government reiterated that resolving the conflict will be only by solving its causes: ending the coup, restoring the state institutions, ending the suffering of Yemeni people and achieving peace based on the three references represented by the Gulf initiative, its executive mechanism, outcomes of the national dialogue and relevant UN resolutions; mainly resolution 2216. Yemen’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Abdullah al-Saadi told the UN Security Council (UNSC) in an open debate on children and armed conflict that the Houthi militia use the bad economic standards of Yemen’s households to recruit children to fight for their side against the legitimate government. He indicated that Houthis recruited over 30,000 children and used them in the conflict, making them vulnerable to violations, killings, mutilation, sexual violence and denial of access to humanitarian assistance. About 3,279 children were killed during the past years of Yemen’s conflict that began in March 2015, according to Saadi. He explained that Houthis recruited children from public schools, juvenile centers and orphanage houses. The Ambassador highlighted that over the past two years, around 1.6 million Yemeni children dropped out of school due to the ongoing fighting caused by the Tehran-backed Houthis who fight to establish a pro-Iran rule in Yemen. Last April, 15 female school children were killed and 102 injured when a missile-store exploded nearby al-Rai Elementary School, in Sawan, Sanaa. He pointed out that Yemeni children are subjected to the worst types of killing, suffering, and recruitment thus denying their access to the basic educational, health and social rights. Saadi affirmed the government’s full commitment to protecting children and ensuring that they are not involved in armed conflicts. He reported that the government will establish a births and deaths registration system to be used as a reference. The Yemeni army also established a trained unit to protect children. Saadi pointed out that the Yemeni government has updated the plan of action signed in 2014 and adopted a road map after joining the 2017 "Safe Schools Declaration” which aims to protect children during armed conflicts. The government has repeatedly called on relevant UN organizations to assist in the implementation of the plan in areas under Houthis’ control, which have exploited and recruited children. This was reflected in the figures in the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict during the period from 2013 to 2018. The Ambassador pointed out that children who had been detained or recruited as fighters among Houthi ranks are sent to Maerib Rehabilitation Center, supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. Authorities also coordinate with the International Red Cross Committee to send the children back to their families, said the Ambassador. He warned that Houthi armed militias have set up summer camps to attract, train and recruit children among their forces in flagrant violation of all international norms, laws and child rights laws. The Yemeni envoy confirmed the government is looking forward to implementing the roadmap signed in 2014 on protecting children in armed conflicts. The government is looking forward to the visit of the UN Sec-Gen Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, to closely study the efforts of the rehabilitation center. He called upon international organization to establish similar centers in other areas for the rehabilitation of children. The Ambassador hoped the progress and commitment of the Yemeni government to protect children will be reflected in the report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict and welcomed the cooperation with the office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.