The boys work for $1 a day.  Their jobs include bus fare collectors, car washers, restaurant workers, market laborers, and street vendors.  For example, a child’s typical day will include purchasing a product, such as a bottle of water or can of soda for a 30 YR, and sell it hours later for a 35-100 YR to a thirsty traveler on the street.  The job is fraught with problems such as customers who take advantage of the children and do not pay for the drinks. 

        The street children are exposed to many diseases because of their living conditions. The diseases include suffer scabies, chicken pox, measles, sore throat, pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and meningitis. The diseases spread because the children are in such close proximity with each other, and cannot take sanitary precautions.

        The number of street children exposed to sexual diseases has risen. Statistics show that 90% of street children are sexually abused.  Typically, the boys are either enticed into cars for as little as a dollar or are raped by elder boys, continuing the cycle of abuse. The boys rarely get protection from their aggressors.

        The children are difficult to protect because of their transient nature.  The vulnerable children are exposed to many pressures.  However, the solution is not to ban child workers, since the children are working to provide for themselves and their siblings.

Yemen Times. Leprosy, sexual and skin diseases Yemeni street children at risk. 19 June 2006.
Reuters. YEMEN: Street children at increased risk of sexual abuse. 25 June 2007.
Yemen Times. Yemeni children narrate their sufferings on the street. 18 September 2006.
Yemen Times. Factors affecting Yemeni Children. 28 August 2006