Islamabad, Sep 12: Sindh Floods: 230,000 Kids Out of School – UNICEF
According to the most recent data from the Sindh Education Department (SED), over 1,300 schools have been damaged, with 228 of them completely demolished, as monsoon rains and floods wreak havoc across southern Pakistan.
Additionally, over 450 schools are now closed due to flooding, which has an immediate negative influence on children’s education. The head of UNICEF Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, stated that the catastrophic effects of climate change continue to interfere with children’s education, from heatwaves to floods.
Pakistan already has a crisis in education, with 26.2 million children not attending school. The number of out-of-school youngsters in the nation is among the highest.
The head of UNICEF Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil, stated, “We hope the floodwaters will recede quickly so children can return to their classrooms, but we fear that prolonged school closures will make it harder for them to come back.”
UNICEF teams are rapidly assessing the needs of affected families, working alongside the government and local partners to restore access to educational facilities and ensure swift recovery through immediate and long-term interventions.
Sindh was the worst-affected province during the catastrophic 2022 floods, which wiped out essential infrastructure, including health and education facilities. Families, still grappling with the aftermath of that disaster, are once again at the mercy of extreme weather, with children bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Fadil said the monsoons have once again torn lives apart across Pakistan. Children have lost their homes, schools, and lives.
We urgently need investment in climate-resilient educational facilities and services. In a country highly vulnerable to climate change, we must innovate and create adaptive, sustainable solutions for children through partnerships that build resilience against future climate shocks.
