New Delhi: The education and learning of over 230,000 students have been affected in Pakistan’s Sindh as floods have damaged school buildings, rendering them inaccessible.
With over 1,300 schools damaged and 228 completely destroyed, recent floods in Mirpur Khas district has led to closure of 450 schools, UNICEF has announced.
The monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Sindh, claiming the lives of 76 individuals, including 38 children. The torrential downpours have led to the displacement of 140,000 children and families across 10 calamity-hit districts in southern Pakistan. Sindh is the worst affected province with vital infrastructure, encompassing health and education facilities being impacted in the face of extreme weather conditions.
Abdullah Fadil, the UNICEF representative in Pakistan, has voiced his apprehension regarding the prolonged closure of schools and its detrimental effects on children’s educational progress. He emphasized that children in Pakistan, already grappling with an education emergency with 26.2 million children out of school, cannot endure further learning setbacks due to climate-related disruptions.
“Our hope is that the rainwater subsides quickly, and children can get back to their classrooms. Our fear is that prolonged school closures make it less likely for them to return,” Fadil said.
The UNICEF has called for urgent investment in climate-resilient schools and services for children in Pakistan.
Teams are working closely with the government and local partners to coordinate response plans and ensure early recovery for affected communities. They are also conducting rapid needs assessments to identify the immediate and longer-term challenges and develop appropriate solutions. The restoration of education access is of utmost importance for the children of Sindh.