UNICEF Reports Over 9 Million Children Without Education in Ethiopia
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Addis Ababa, Jan 3 (NationPress) Over nine million children are currently not receiving education in Ethiopia due to both human-induced and natural calamities, as reported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In its most recent Ethiopia Humanitarian Situation Report, published late Thursday, UNICEF indicated that more than 6,000 schools have been shut down throughout the East African nation due to climate shocks and conflicts.
The report further highlighted that over 10,000 schools, accounting for 18 percent of the educational institutions in the country, have sustained damage from conflicts and climate-related events, further diminishing the availability of safe and functional learning environments for children.
UNICEF emphasized the ongoing conflict in various regions of Ethiopia, especially in the Amhara and Oromia regions, stating that the education sector has faced severe destruction.
Currently, over nine million children are out of school due to conflicts, natural disasters, and displacement, according to the Xinhua news agency.
The Ethiopian government frequently attributes the obstruction of essential services, such as education and development programs, to “extremist groups” operating in regions affected by armed conflict.
Additionally, UNICEF has cautioned that a lack of funding is hindering its humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia amidst escalating humanitarian needs.
“UNICEF continues to seek support to guarantee that children and their caregivers receive lifesaving assistance in 2024 and beyond,” the organization stated.
Last month, a report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African organization, revealed that the number of food-insecure individuals in the Horn of Africa reached 64.8 million as of November.
This figure represents a slight decline from 65 million in October, attributed to enhanced food supplies resulting from increased rainfall in certain IGAD member states.
Among those affected, 35 million are located in IGAD member countries, including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, while the rest are in other Horn of Africa nations, such as the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The report indicated that the region is home to over 29 million displaced persons, driven by conflict and climate-related threats, particularly in Sudan and the DRC. The surge of internally displaced people is worsening food insecurity in numerous host communities by placing additional pressure on their already scarce resources.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) pointed out other factors contributing to the crisis, including economic shocks, drought, and flooding, which are exacerbating poverty and triggering displacement, malnutrition, and acute food shortages.
The OCHA estimates that approximately 9.8 billion US dollars will be required to tackle the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa.
