By Samantha Semoso – EMTV Online
Nearly 24 million children living in crisis zones from 22 strife-torn countries are being deprived of a school education, threatening their own future and that of their societies, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on December 12.
UNICEF Chief Executive, Joe Bourne, said “children who are living in war-torn countries have lost their homes; family members, friends and their safety, are now unable to even learn the basic reading and writing skills. They are at risk of losing their futures and missing out on the opportunity to contribute to their economies and societies when they reach adulthood.”
The analysis highlights that nearly one in four of the 109.2 million children of primary and lower secondary school age – typically between six and 15 years – living in conflict areas are missing out on their education.
South Sudan which was thrown into turmoil when conflict erupted between President, Salvar Kiir, and his former Vice-President, Riek Machar, two years ago, killing thousands, displacing over 2.4 million people and impacting the food security of 4.6 million people.
The country is home to the highest proportion of out-of-school children.
UNICEF Chief of Executive Joe Bourne said “Children who are living in war-torn countries have lost their homes; family members, friends and their safety, are now unable to even learn the basic reading and writing skills. They are at risk of losing their futures and missing out on the opportunity to contribute to their economies and societies when they reach adulthood.”
The analysis highlights that nearly one in four of the 109.2 million children of primary and lower secondary school age – typically between six and 15 years – living in conflict areas are missing out on their education.
South Sudan which was thrown into turmoil when conflict erupted between President Salvar Kiir and his former Vice-President Riek Machar two years ago, killing thousands, displacing over 2.4 million people, are impacting the food security of 4.6 million, is home to the highest proportion of out-of-school children.
