UNICEF Reports 242 Million Children Affected by Severe Weather-Induced School Interruptions

UNICEF reported that over 242 million children in 85 countries faced school interruptions due to extreme weather, impacting one in seven school-age children. The report highlighted the destructive effects of climate hazards, especially in low-income regions, with significant disruption also seen in southern Europe. Heatwaves emerged as the leading cause of school closures, with many children particularly vulnerable to these conditions. The overall findings stress the urgent need for better preparation and resilience within global educational systems against climate-related disruptions.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that extreme weather conditions kept approximately 242 million children out of school in 85 countries last year. This issue represents one in seven school-age children globally affected by climate-related disruptions in 2024. The report highlights that numerous schools were destroyed, particularly in low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which were disproportionately impacted by these climate hazards.

The effects of extreme weather were felt beyond low-income regions, as significant disruptions occurred in southern Europe. Specifically, over 900,000 children in Italy experienced educational interruptions due to torrential rains and floods, while catastrophic flooding in Spain also caused thousands of classes to be halted. The report emphasizes that heatwaves emerged as the principal climate hazard affecting schools last year during a time marked by record high global temperatures.

In April alone, more than 118 million children had their education disrupted, primarily in the Middle East and Asia, where intense heat waves resulted in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell articulated that children are especially vulnerable to the effects of weather crises. “Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently and cool down more slowly than adults,” she stated, emphasizing the difficulties faced by children in extreme heat.

The majority of affected children, about 74%, were located in middle- and low-income countries, highlighting the severe implications of climate extremes in impoverished regions. In April, flooding devastated over 400 schools in Pakistan, and severe flooding in Afghanistan resulted from heatwaves, leading to the destruction of over 110 schools in May. Ongoing droughts exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon further threatened the education of millions of children in southern Africa.

The challenges to education due to climate events continue to intensify, with many regions devastated by natural disasters. The French territory of Mayotte endured severe destruction from Cyclone Chido, followed by Tropical Storm Dikeledi, impacting schooling for six weeks. In Mozambique, Cyclone Chido obliterated over 330 schools, confronting already precarious education access in the area. UNICEF underscored the urgent need for schools and education systems to be better prepared for the effects of extreme weather.

The growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, attributed to climate change, pose significant threats to education worldwide. Children in low-income and vulnerable regions are particularly affected due to inadequate infrastructure to withstand such climatic impacts. With schools frequently becoming sites of disruption or destruction, the need for improved resilience in educational systems has never been more critical, as evidenced by UNICEF’s findings about the devastating impact of climate hazards on children’s education.

In summary, UNICEF’s report highlights the alarming number of children worldwide, particularly in low-income areas, facing interruptions in their education due to extreme weather events. The data underscore the urgent need for educational systems to adapt to increasingly severe climate conditions to protect children’s right to education. As children are more vulnerable to these crises, addressing the intersection of climate change and education is essential to ensuring their futures remain promising despite these challenges.

Original Source: www.voanews.com