UNICEF Report: 250 Million Children Affected by Extreme Weather Disruptions
UNICEF reports that nearly 250 million children missed school due to extreme weather events in 2024, largely affecting low-income countries. Key disruptions included heatwaves, cyclones, and flooding, particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with hundreds of schools rendered unusable.
According to UNICEF, extreme weather events last year disrupted the education of approximately 242 million children across 85 countries. This equated to one in seven school-aged children worldwide facing interruptions to their schooling due to climate-related events such as heatwaves, cyclones, and flooding. Notably, low-income nations in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa suffered severe educational losses with hundreds of schools destroyed by weather.
The issue of climate change has increasingly affected children, particularly regarding their education. As global temperatures rise, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, leading to substantial interruptions in educational activities. This report underscores the disproportionate impact of climate crises on vulnerable populations, particularly children in impoverished regions.
The findings presented by UNICEF illustrate a profound impact of climate disasters on children’s education, showing that the consequences are especially severe in low- and middle-income countries. As extreme weather continues to threaten education systems, there is an urgent need for improved resilience measures to safeguard the schooling of millions.
Original Source: www.nbcphiladelphia.com
