EU aid to help educate 2.3 million children living in emergencies

Iraqi student Digana, second left, is happy to be back at school in Zumar 国产视频� but millions are denied an education听笔颈肠迟耻谤别:听鲍狈滨颁贰贵/础苍尘补谤

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More than 2.3 million children in 42 countries will be helped by a European Union package of aid aimed at education in emergencies.

The $59 million of funding will be targeted at regions where children are at higher risk of being left out of school or having their education disrupted. They include the Middle East (especially Syria and Iraq); East, Central and West Africa; Asia; Ukraine; Central America; and Colombia.

A World at School has been calling on world leaders to听commit to set up a platform to fund education in emergencies, including wars and natural disasters.

More than 80 million children had their education disrupted in 2015 by emergencies. They need safe places to learn and recover from their trauma 国产视频� but less than 2% of humanitarian aid went to education last year.

Today国产视频檚 announcement by the European Commission reflects a commitment to allocate 4% of its humanitarian aid budget to education 国产视频� up from just 1% in 2015

Christos Stylianides 国产视频� the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management 国产视频� revealed the increased funding in a statement and a blog for the Education Commission, which is investigating how to provide education for every child.

Syrian students 国产视频� these girls are at a camp in Tartous 国产视频� will get access to digital resources听Picture: UNICEF/Saker

He said: 国产视频淚nvesting in education now for children caught up in conflict zones and other emergencies is an investment against the risk of a lost generation and an investment for the future.

国产视频淚国产视频檓 proud that the European Union is becoming a leader in this field. I now call on all humanitarian donors to follow our example.国产视频�

The EU funding will support access to education in emergency situations 国产视频� including mine risk education, life skills and vocational training, recreational activities and psychosocial support.

School materials and new education facilities are also among the benefits, along with training for teachers, parents and caregivers.

A wide range of NGOs,听United Nations agencies and international organisations will channel the aid to where it is most needed.

This will include UNICEF improving the quality of children国产视频檚 learning environment in Aleppo, Syria, by providing solar panels to schools often affected by power cuts. Syrian children will be able to access digital resources in schools through low-cost computers and tablets.

Ethopian teachers at refugee camps, like this one near听Gambella, will be given training Picture: UNICEF/Ose

In Ethiopia, Save the Children will improve access to quality learning for children in refugee camps by providing training to teachers and by renovating or creating new safe learning spaces.

The additional European funding was welcomed by Gordon Brown, chair of the Education Commission and the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education.

He said: 国产视频淭his is the first stage of a new system of support on a continuous basis for humanitarian aid to education in emergencies.

国产视频淭here are 30 million displaced children around the world who need this support and the European Union has led the way in pioneering new forms of giving.国产视频�

The announcement is a major boost to the funding of education in emergencies. But much more still needs to be done.

You can send a message to leaders meeting at the first ever World Humanitarian Summit in May 国产视频� ensuring they commit to set up a new platform to fund education in emergencies.

国产视频 国产视频� the children国产视频檚 charity behind A World at School 国产视频� has launched the #SafeSchools campaign to keep up public pressure. Please sign the #SafeSchools petition.