Extreme weather disrupts schooling for nearly 250 million kids, UNICEF says

UN bureau says students successful 85 countries experienced climate-related disruptions past year.

At slightest 242 cardinal students had their acquisition disrupted past twelvemonth due to the fact that of heatwaves, cyclones, floods and different utmost upwind events, the United Nations children’s bureau has said.

Heatwaves were the astir disruptive clime event, with Bangladesh, the Philippines and Cambodia experiencing wide schoolhouse closures and reduced schooling hours, UNICEF said successful a study released connected Friday.

Afghanistan was among a fig of countries to look aggregate clime hazards, with the state facing heatwaves arsenic good arsenic terrible flash floods that damaged oregon destroyed much than 110 schools successful May, UNICEF said.

Global temperatures deed an all-time precocious successful 2024, with the Earth’s mean aboveground somesthesia rising 1.55 degrees Celsius (2.79 degrees Fahrenheit) supra the 1850-1900 average, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

“Children are much susceptible to the impacts of weather-related crises, including stronger and much predominant heatwaves, storms, droughts and flooding,” UNICEF enforcement manager Catherine Russell said.

“Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They vigor up faster, they sweat little efficiently and chill down much dilatory than adults. Children cannot ore successful classrooms that connection nary respite from sweltering heat, and they cannot get to schoolhouse if the way is flooded, oregon if schools are washed away.”

In total, 85 countries experienced climate-related schoolhouse disruptions, including 20 countries that saw disruptions nationwide, according to UNICEF.

Of the astir 250 cardinal students affected, 74 percent were successful mediate and low-income countries.

South Asia was the worst-affected region, with astir 128 cardinal students facing climate-related upheaval, followed by East Asia and the Pacific, according to UNICEF.

September recorded the astir predominant disruptions, with astatine slightest 18 countries suspending classes, according to the UN agency.

“Education is 1 of the services astir often disrupted owed to clime hazards. Yet it is often overlooked successful argumentation discussions, contempt its relation successful preparing children for clime adaptation,” Russell said.

“Children’s futures indispensable beryllium astatine the forefront of each climate-related plans and actions.”