According to the International Rescue Committee, it is estimated that 72 million children in conflict zones are out of school as of 2024. Schools can be targets during conflict and are often not the first institution opened after peace is brokered.
Whether it be a civil war, hurricane, or pandemic, reestablishing education can provide a safe space and some normalcy for children. Waiting until emergencies are over to provide an education for affected students can fuel the creation of a lost generation - children who grow up without or minimal access to education - limiting a country's ability to rebuild and grow following an emergency.
Crisis-Affected Children and Adolescents in Need of Education Support: New Global Estimates and Thematic Deep Dives, Education Cannot Wait, 2023
What you need to know about education in emergencies, UNESCO, 2024
UNHCR Education Report, UNHCR, 2024
