UNICEF Reports Disruption of Education for 242 Million Children Due to Extreme Weather
UNICEF reports that extreme weather events disrupted the education of 242 million children in 85 countries last year, with heat waves being the most prevalent issue. The impact fell disproportionately on low-income countries, exacerbating existing educational vulnerabilities. The report calls attention to the inadequacy of current education systems to cope with these challenges.
According to a recent UNICEF report, over 242 million children across 85 nations experienced interruptions to their education in the previous year due to extreme weather events such as heat waves, cyclones, and flooding. This staggering figure represents approximately one in seven children globally who faced disruptions in their schooling in 2024 as a direct consequence of climate-related hazards.
The report emphasizes that lower-income nations, particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, were particularly affected, with significant destruction of hundreds of schools attributed to extreme weather. However, no region was immune; torrential rains and floods in Italy disrupted schooling for over 900,000 children, and classes in Spain were halted due to severe flooding.
UNICEF identified heat waves as the leading climate threat affecting school closures last year, coinciding with record-high global temperatures. In April alone, more than 118 million children’s education was affected as vast areas of the Middle East and Asia encountered prolonged heat waves with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, underscored the heightened vulnerability of children to climatic crises. She noted that children remain more susceptible to the adverse effects of extreme weather due to their physiological differences. Conditions such as intense heat impact their concentration in classrooms, while flooded pathways inhibit their ability to reach schools.
The report highlights that approximately 74% of affected children reside in middle- and low-income countries. For instance, flooding devastated more than 400 schools in Pakistan in April, while Afghanistan dealt with heat waves followed by floods that destroyed over 110 schools in May.
The region of southern Africa faces severe drought conditions aggravated by the El Niño phenomenon, jeopardizing educational opportunities for millions of children. The situation continues to worsen, evidenced by Cyclone Chido’s destruction of schools in Mayotte and Mozambique, inflicting additional educational challenges on already vulnerable populations.
UNICEF concluded that the current educational systems are ill-equipped to handle the repercussions of severe weather incidents, highlighting the urgent need for improved resilience strategies against climate change’s impacts on education.
UNICEF’s findings shed light on the growing crisis of educational disruptions due to extreme weather, particularly in vulnerable regions. As global temperatures rise, nations face increasingly frequent and severe weather events that disproportionately impact children. The report calls for immediate attention to the challenges faced by educational systems that are unprepared for such climate-related crises, stressing an urgent need for intervention to safeguard children’s right to education amidst these adversities.
The UNICEF report reveals alarming statistics regarding the impact of extreme weather on children’s education, highlighting the vulnerability of children, particularly in low-income nations. The urgent need for educational systems to adapt and implement strategies mitigating the effects of climate change on schooling is underscored. Without significant action, millions of children risk further interruptions in their education, which could affect their futures.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
