UNICEF Reports 250 Million Children Miss School Due to Extreme Weather

UNICEF reported that approximately 250 million children were out of school in 2024 due to extreme weather, indicating one in seven school-age children globally. The findings show that significant disruptions, especially in low-income countries, were caused by events like heatwaves, cyclones, and flooding. This situation underscores the urgent need for educational systems to adapt to ongoing climatic challenges.

A recent UNICEF report revealed that nearly 250 million children missed school in 2024 due to extreme weather events, equating to one in seven school-age children worldwide. The report highlighted that numerous extreme climate phenomena, including heatwaves, cyclones, and flooding, interrupted education for at least 242 million children across 85 countries last year.

Specific regions experienced significant educational disruptions, notably low-income countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, substantial flooding in Italy affected over 900,000 students, while Spain faced similar challenges, leading to class cancellations.

UNICEF identified heatwaves as the most prominent climate threat to schooling in 2024, coinciding with the record-setting global temperatures. Throughout April alone, over 118 million children were affected, particularly in the Middle East and Asia, where a prolonged heatwave saw temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, stated, “Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of weather-related crises, including stronger and more frequent heatwaves, storms, droughts, and flooding.” She emphasized the increased physiological risks for children related to extreme temperatures and the resultant challenges to their education.

The report indicated that 74% of affected children resided in middle- and low-income nations, underscoring the severe impact of climatic extremes on the poorest populations. For instance, flooding severely damaged over 400 schools in Pakistan, while Afghanistan faced both heatwaves and flooding, which obliterated more than 110 schools.

Persistent drought conditions in southern Africa, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon, posed ongoing threats to educational access for millions of children. Moreover, disasters such as Cyclone Chido devastated the French territory of Mayotte and inflicted additional damage to schools in Mozambique, hindering education further.

UNICEF called attention to the inadequacies of global education systems regarding preparedness for extreme weather impacts, indicating a pressing need for enhanced resilience in schools worldwide.

In the context of increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events, UNICEF’s findings underscore a major global crisis affecting children’s education. These events disrupt schooling systems, especially in vulnerable areas, highlighting the intersection of climate change and educational access. The report draws attention not only to the immediate interruptions in schooling but also to the longer-term consequences for children’s futures, particularly in low-income regions highly susceptible to climate hazards. The intersection of climatic extremes and children’s wellbeing necessitates urgent action from governments and organizations to develop robust educational frameworks capable of sustaining these challenges. Addressing vulnerabilities in education systems will be vital to safeguarding children’s access to learning in the face of growing environmental challenges.

The UNICEF report starkly reveals the critical impact of extreme weather on global education, with nearly 250 million children affected in 2024. Notably, low-income regions bear the brunt of these crises, with heatwaves cited as the primary risk factor interrupting schooling. Urgent measures are essential to adapt and strengthen educational systems against the increasing threats posed by climate change to ensure uninterrupted learning opportunities for all children.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com