Education in emergencies to get bigger slice of EU’s humanitarian aid

The numbers are simple. About 75 million children had their education disrupted during 2015 by humanitarian emergencies, including conflicts and disasters. Of those, 37 million were left out of school completely.

More than 80% of refugee crises last for more than 10 years 国产视频� and without education displaced聽children are at risk of child labour, child marriage, trafficking,聽exploitation and extremism.

But the response has been underwhelming. Of all the money that goes to humanitarian aid, less than 2% of it is spent on educating children in safe schools.

The European Union showed the way forward yesterday when it announced it would increase the education share of its aid funding in 2017聽from 4% to 6% 国产视频� six times higher than in 2014.

The move was revealed at the Education in Emergencies Forum in Belgium, hosted by the European Commission.聽Christos Stylianides, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, called on other international donors to step up their efforts, saying:聽国产视频淓ducation is not a privilege, education is a right.聽

国产视频淥ur aim is to enable access to quality education in a safe learning environment for vulnerable children caught in situations of emergency. By funding education, we can make a real investment in children国产视频檚 futures and their hope for a better life.国产视频�

The increased share of funding will support access to formal and non-formal education, including life skills, vocational training, recreational activities, school materials, new聽education facilities and training for teachers and parents.

The announcement came during a session on partnerships to deliver education in emergencies聽hosted by 国产视频 President Sarah Brown.聽

She said: 国产视频淓U Commissioner Stylianides has championed education for children caught up in the most dramatic and desperate humanitarian circumstances right from the start, raising education spending from 2% to 4% and now 6% this year.

国产视频淗e has promised to prioritise education in emergencies and I truly welcome the delivery of this promise to children.国产视频�

More than $97 million in EU humanitarian aid has so far been allocated for education in emergencies projects聽国产视频� benefitting over聽3.8 million children in 47 countries.

Also taking part in the forum聽session in Brussels聽were Omer Celik, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs; Lebanon国产视频檚 Education Minister Elias Bou Saab; Linda McAvan, Chair of the European Parliament国产视频檚 Committee on Development; and Google国产视频檚 Vice President of Public Policy Nicklas Lundblad.

Celik said he was 国产视频減roud国产视频� that Turkey is hosting three million refugees 国产视频� 800,000 of them children.

McAvan said: 国产视频淎s MEPs (Member of the European Parliament)聽we are fully committed to increasing funding dedicated to education in emergencies and have found a strong ally in Commissioner Stylianides, who quickly delivered on our call to raise the percentage of humanitarian funding given to education to 4%.

国产视频淗is new pledge to raise funding to 6% is really good news 国产视频撀燽ut now we need other international donors to match the pledge and deliver the money. 聽We can国产视频檛 carry on leaving humanitarian aid programmes like those for Syria half-funded.国产视频�

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom国产视频檚 Department for International Development (DFID) has聽confirmed its commitment聽for 11 million children to gain a decent education and help 6.5 million more girls go to school.

In its Bilateral Development Review 2016, it said: 国产视频淏ritain is leading global efforts to improve the lives of girls and women in the world国产视频檚 poorest countries. During the past five years we have helped more than five million girls get an education.国产视频澛�

DFID also said the Education Cannot Wait fund 国产视频� established to deliver education in emergencies 国产视频� 国产视频渨ill help more than 4.5 million children and young people receive a better education, helping ensure they are safe from exploitation.