UNICEF Report Reveals 242 Million Children Affected by Extreme Weather Interruptions
UNICEF reports that approximately 242 million children missed school in 2023 due to extreme weather, impacting one in seven globally. The majority affected were in low-income countries, with significant incidents of flooding and heatwaves disrupting education. The ongoing climate crisis poses severe challenges to children’s access to schooling and development opportunities.
In 2023, UNICEF reported that approximately 242 million children across 85 countries experienced interruptions to their schooling due to extreme weather events. This represents about one in seven school-age children globally affected by climate-related hazards, such as heatwaves, cyclones, and flooding. Vulnerable countries, particularly low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, were disproportionately impacted, with numerous schools destroyed or damaged.
Southern Europe faced similar challenges, as heavy rains and floods disrupted education for over 900,000 children in Italy and halted classes for many in Spain. UNICEF identified heatwaves as the primary climate threat, particularly during April when significant heat impacted regions from Gaza to the Philippines, leading to widespread school disruptions.
Children are uniquely susceptible to the effects of extreme weather, which restricts their ability to concentrate in classes and access educational facilities. UNICEF’s executive director, Catherine Russell, noted the increased vulnerability of children’s bodies to heat and flooding effects. A significant 74% of the affected children were in middle- and low-income countries, highlighting the ongoing devastation in these regions.
Countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan reported severe flooding and heatwaves that destroyed numerous schools earlier in the year. In southern Africa, prolonged drought conditions, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, threatened the educational prospects of millions of children.
Challenges persisted, with regions such as Mayotte suffering destruction from Cyclone Chido and subsequent storms, which left children out of school for an extended period. In Mozambique, Cyclone Chido also resulted in the destruction of over 330 schools, exacerbating existing educational issues. UNICEF emphasized that educational systems worldwide are not adequately prepared to cope with the continuing effects of extreme weather events.
The issue of children’s access to education in the face of climate change is increasingly critical. Recent studies have demonstrated that extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves, severely disrupt schooling for millions of children globally. As climate change intensifies, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has drawn attention to the need for urgent action to protect children’s educational rights amidst these ongoing crises.
In summary, the challenges posed to children’s education by climate-related disasters are profound and widespread, affecting millions globally, particularly in low-income nations. The persistence of extreme weather events highlights the urgent need for improved resilience and preparedness within educational systems to safeguard children’s learning opportunities in the face of climate change.
Original Source: www.pbs.org
