Today, there are more than 250 million children (1 in 9 children) who live in conflict zones and half a billion children who have been placed in emergency settings due to extreme climate changes. This morning,UNICEF announced it would be a launching a US $2.8 billion dollar appeal to assist 76 million people in 63 countries. UNICEF’s goal is to use this appeal to provide 43 million children in emergency settings with aid. 25% of this will go toward education, specifically to educate 8.2 million children, an incredible increase from 4.9 million children in 2015.
This is a gigantic step forward in achieving Global Goal 4: quality and inclusive education for all by 2030. Access to education, especially for children who have been affected by extreme climate change, violence and conflict, provides a stable environment and the opportunity to thrive.
Education helps children in crises recover from hardships caused by emergencies @UNICEFhttps://t.co/Kfo9jzFyexpic.twitter.com/9mByYQ22D5
— Global Partnership (@GPforEducation) January 27, 2016Living in a conflict zone:
Imagine being one of the children who live in a conflict zone. Your life might look a little like this:
2) The lack of food and water available has made you tired. Fuel to make food is scarce, and nearby water has been polluted.
3) You are getting sick, the health care centers in town have been bombed and looted by armed groups.
4) Your school has been shut down, there are school programs starting a few towns over, but you need to wait until the rebel groups in your town have moved out to attend.
5) When you can attend, you are weeks behind your peers and the language lessons are taught in are not your own.
6) Two weeks later classes are stopped because armed groups have returned.
7) You have friends who have joined armed groups, they talk about avenging the deaths of their family members. Death has become a common sight, you’ve seen the bodies, and now you start thinking that maybe joining an armed group is a good idea.
8) You make your choice, you’re a soldier now. You catch a glimpse of yourself in a puddle as you line up with the others. You think you look intimidating. An eleven-year-old boy with an AK-47 slung over his back.
Syrian child conscription and deaths on rise, says @Unicefhttps://t.co/N97vTDcmjC
— Malene Jensen (@mkampjensen) January 27, 2016A child raised in conflict loses her childhood. UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Programmes, Ashan Khan sums it up perfectly: "Education is a life-saving measure for children, providing them with the opportunity to learn and play, amidst the carnage of gunfire and grenades...”
In addition to education, UNICEF’s appeal will go towards nutrition, WASH programs, health care, child protection and cash assistance.
Access to education, in addition to health care, clean water and nutrition, is a game changer for children and their families. As Ms. Khan stated, education is life-saving. Now is the time to make sure all kids everywhere get a full education.