A/HRC/45/CRP.7 phone calls from their sons several days or weeks after they were missing from home, the boys were already in Saudi Arabia.364 The Group also received allegations of similar patterns for 26 other boys.365 Of the 26 boys, eight are reported to have died in combat. Methods of Recruitment 249. The recruitment and use of these boys was closely intertwined with the economic impact of the conflict in south-central areas of Yemen. Family members alleged that recruiters manipulated boys by preying on their economic vulnerability. Brokers offered boys lucrative salaries in Saudi currency, which has a significantly higher purchasing power than the Yemeni Riyal and which further destabilises Yemen’s already precarious economy.366 Boys were also influenced by the examples of their neighbors, family and friends who returned from the Brigades flush with cash.367 250. Rather than operating under a clear structure, recruitment of boys, men and even the elderly from Ta‘izz and Lahj took place through a loose network of Yemeni civilian brokers. Allegedly, a cash payment of 1,000 Saudi Riyals was made to the broker each time a new recruit was “delivered” to the Brigade camps, situated 30 km from the Al-Wade’a border crossing. The only criteria used for the selection of new recruits was the need for concrete numbers of fighters, without any minimum age requirement.368 Sources told the Group that this system incentivised brokers to amass as many new recruits as possible, regardless of age or ability.369 Reportedly, large numbers of boys were recruited from the same village in a domino effect, as one recruitment led to another, and friends, brothers, nephews and cousins joined in quick succession.370 Transfer to and training in Saudi Arabia 251. Brokers drove the boys approximately 2,000 km northeast to Al-Wade’a crossing371 on the Yemen-Saudi border, traversing Ta‘izz, Ibb, Dhamar, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale’e, Aden, Shabwa, and Mar’ib.372 New recruits entering Saudi Arabia as Brigade members were allegedly not screened for age by Yemeni or Saudi military. Upon arrival, new recruits were registered in the Brigade camps or in nearby public buildings, without screening for age. Use of children in hostilities, and capture or detention of children 252. With only one exception, in all the cases documented by the Group, boys recruited by these Brigades were deployed on Yemeni soil to combat the Houthis on Elb, Baqim, Kitaf, Azal and Buq’a axes in Sa’ada. The Group verified that one boy was able to escape from one of these brigades before being deployed to combat, and returned home in Yemen. It also received reports of other boys who managed to escape and returned home to their villages in Ta‘izz and Lahj or, if not home, they would go to Aden. 253. Among those boys who survived combat, some were captured during hostilities and detained by the Houthis for their alleged affiliation with the enemy. The Group also received reports of compensation paid to the families of children captured or killed in battle.373 Recruitment and use of children by Government of Yemen forces and other parties to the conflict in the South 254. As hostilities intensified between the Government of Yemen forces and the STC forces in the south from August 2019 onwards, the Government of Yemen’s Special Security Forces in Shabwah Governorate recruited and used boys in hostilities. The Group of Experts 364 Confidential sources on file. Confidential sources on file. 366 Confidential sources on file. 367 Confidential sources on file. 368 Confidential sources on file. 369 Confidential sources on file. 370 Confidential sources on file. 371 Allegations were received that Al Khadrah border post was as well a crossing site for child recruits. 372 Confidential sources on file. 373 Confidential sources on file. 365 67