Conflict disrupts education for 52 million children across Middle East and beyond: Save the Children

ISLAMABAD: Ongoing violence in the Middle East and surrounding regions has interrupted the education of at least 52 million school-aged children, according to a statement by Save the Children. The child rights organisation's estimate, which is based on United Nations population data for children aged 5 to 17, highlights the widespread impact of conflict on schooling as violence enters its second week.

Save the Children reported that the disruption is a result of schools being damaged, closed, or converted into shelters due to ongoing hostilities. The affected countries include Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the State of Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates. The region is home to at least 100 million children, many of whom are now facing barriers to education.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, air strikes have destroyed 65 schools in Iran alone. The damage to educational infrastructure is not limited to Iran, as schools across the region have either been destroyed, damaged, or forced to close for safety reasons. In some cases, educational institutions have been repurposed as shelters for displaced families.

Save the Children noted that, as of early March, schools and universities in the affected countries were facing significant challenges in maintaining regular educational activities. Many students have been forced to shift to online learning, while others have been unable to continue their studies altogether due to the lack of safe facilities and resources.

The organisation emphasised the far-reaching consequences of these disruptions, warning that prolonged interruptions to education could have lasting effects on children's development and future opportunities. The ripple effect of the conflict has been felt across a dozen nations, including Pakistan, where children are also experiencing the impact of regional instability on their education.