Education still priority despite growing South Sudan crisis

Displaced children living in makeshift shelters in South Sudan are at increasing risk of disease and malnutrition.

UNICEF has warned that that if the fighting continues, as many as 50,000 children could die of hunger.

But aid agencies realise that even in the midst of the horror unfolding there that education is still of importance.

Before the conflict began in December, only one in 10 children completed primary school.

And only three in 10 children aged six to 17 had ever been inside a classroom, according to UNESCO.

UNICEF is doing what it can to provide schooling for the thousands of children living in refugee camps in the country.

Spokesomwan Doune Porter told Voice of America: 国产视频淭o be able to introduce some kind of normality, some kind of routine by going to school, is very important.

国产视频淥ne of the things we are doing in some areas we can reach is to bring in tents 国产视频� what we call temporary learning spaces 国产视频� and we are working with teachers so that some basic education can be continued for children.国产视频�

Zachariah Ding Ako, a director at the Sudd Institute think tank, added: 国产视频淓ducation has taken a backseat, unfortunately. To stop blood and lives being taken takes precedence. But definitely children will continue to be out of school if the war continues.国产视频�

UNICEF warned yesterday that the growing violence in South Sudan is making an already 国产视频渧ery dangerous国产视频� malnutrition crisis even worse.

It said about 150,000 children under five are suffering from malnutrition and is calling for $38million to meet the country国产视频檚 nutrition needs.