UNICEF’s recent report indicates that 242 million children globally had their education interrupted in 2024 due to extreme weather events, marking one in seven school-going children affected. Low-income countries faced the most severe impacts, with significant disruptions reported in regions like Europe, Asia, and Africa. The organization emphasizes that the education sector is largely unprepared for the challenges posed by climate change.
According to a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report, approximately 242 million children across 85 countries experienced interruptions to their schooling in 2024 due to extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cyclones, and floods. This translates to about one in seven school-aged children worldwide missing class at some point during the year due to climate-related disruptions. Low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have been particularly affected, with numerous schools destroyed, yet regions like southern Europe also suffered significant disruptions. For instance, torrential rain and floods in Italy impacted over 900,000 children, while catastrophic flooding in Spain halted classes for thousands.
UNICEF highlighted that heatwaves were the primary climate hazard impacting education last year. The report noted that April alone saw more than 118 million children missing school due to one of the hottest months recorded globally, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in various regions, particularly throughout the Middle East and Asia. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the unique vulnerabilities of children during weather crises, which can severely hinder their ability to learn due to physical and environmental constraints.
The report revealed that around 74% of affected children resided in middle- and low-income countries, which continue to endure the harshest impacts of climatic extremes. For example, flooding resulted in the destruction of over 400 schools in Pakistan, while Afghanistan faced both heatwaves and flooding that adversely affected more than 110 schools. Compounding these issues, prolonged drought conditions in southern Africa, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, jeopardized the educational futures of millions of children.
The calamities persist, as evidenced by the recent devastation on the French territory of Mayotte and Mozambique from Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, which rendered numerous educational facilities unusable. As the report elucidates, the global education sector remains inadequately prepared for the exigencies posed by extreme weather events, thereby amplifying challenges in providing consistent educational opportunities.
UNICEF recently released a report detailing the significant impact of extreme weather on children’s education globally. The organization has highlighted how extreme climate conditions, including severe heatwaves, cyclones, and floods, have disrupted schooling for millions of children, particularly in poorer nations. This report underscores the rising frequency and intensity of climate-related crises and their direct consequences on education systems worldwide, already struggling to cope with existing challenges.
The findings from UNICEF’s report illustrate the urgent need for robust strategies to protect children’s education from the growing threat of extreme weather. With nearly 250 million children affected in just one year, it is imperative that global education systems adapt and strengthen their resilience to climatic disruptions, particularly in low-income regions that bear the brunt of these crises.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
