US combats child labor in Yemen with $8 million [Archives:2004/773/Front Page]

The United Sates ambassador Thomas Krajeski announced that his country has allocated $8 million for combating child labor in Yemen. A press release issued by the US embassy in Sana'a said that the “US Department of Labor will spend $8 million on a four-year joint campaign to combat child labor in Yemen and Lebanon.” The statement said that the project entitled “Alternatives to Combat Child Labor Through Education and Sustainable Services in the Middle East and North Africa region” is a part of a regional strategy to dramatically reduce the levels of exploitative child labor in 14 nations.
“The project seeks to reduce the level of exploitative child labor in Yemen and Lebanon by providing education, skills training and entrepreneurial opportunities,” the press release said. The project is estimated to target 3,000 Yemeni children, with a special focus on girls. The targeted groups will be children working in the agricultural sector in Hajja and Ibb and in the fishing industry in Abyan.
The number of children working in Yemen is estimated to be over 400,000. Most of these children suffer from different sorts of abuse and harassment, including sexual.
The US granted Yemen $290 million during the last three years, out of which $160 million was allocated to the Coast Guard authority and other security purposes.
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