Gordon Brown: donors must act now on education fund or face ‘global crisis’

Syrian refugee children in a Lebanese classroom draw what a safe school means to them during a visit by former British ambassador Tom Fletcher听Picture: A World at School/Tabitha Ross

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International leaders must take urgent action to deliver education to millions of children in humanitarian emergencies 国产视频� or face a 国产视频渇ull-blown global crisis国产视频� that will haunt the world for three generations.

That was the stark warning from Gordon Brown, the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, as he challenged donors to ensure the new Education Cannot Wait fund is successful.

He gave more details of the fund, which will be officially launched at the first World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey on May 23 and 24.

Mr Brown said at a UN briefing yesterday the goal is for more than 100 leading countries, companies and philanthropists to join forces to create a 国产视频渕ajor breakthrough国产视频澒悠禉 in the fight to provide education for millions of children displaced by conflicts and natural disasters.

The Education Cannot Wait fund aims to raise $3.85 billion across the next five years. The education envoy announced he has approved a new 国产视频済iving pledge国产视频� for billionaires to make a collective contribution.

More than 60 businesses have already agreed to take part alongside many of the world国产视频檚 top aid donors. Individual philanthropists have also been approached.

Mr Brown said the fund could be the only chance to save a generation lost to war, child marriage, forced labour and recruiters for violent extremism.

He added: 国产视频淚t is designed to cater for the needs of 30 million displaced girls and boys, the largest population of girls and boys uprooted since 1945 国产视频� 20 million of whom have no choice at the moment and are unable to go to school.

Children in Nepal听have missed out on schooling after the earthquake last year Picture: A World at School/Lauren Ciell

国产视频淭his fund will be unique in many different ways. We will be the first to bridge the gap between humanitarian aid and development aid.

国产视频淎t present education falls through the net. Most humanitarian aid goes 国产视频� as you would expect 国产视频� to food and shelter, and development aid is long-term and not geared to an emergency.国产视频�

Mr Brown unveiled support for the fund from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and a number of world leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and Gra莽a Machel.

The Education Cannot Wait fund will build on the initiative to get one million Syrian refugees into school in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

But it will also help in Nepal, where 900,000 children are out of school because of the earthquake emergency, in South Sudan where one-third of children are denied schooling and in Nigeria where Boko Haram has closed 5000 schools.听

Amel Karboul, a member of the Education Commission on funding, said: 国产视频淚 hope this will be but the first achievement in the march towards making education disruptions during emergencies a thing of the past. And I hope the international community will join us in seeing this promise come to fruition.国产视频�

Justin van Fleet, Director of the听Education Commission, said: 国产视频淓ducation Cannot Wait will be a new, historic fund to deliver education in emergencies and realise the long-awaited promise for children and youth impacted by crises and conflict.

国产视频淭he ambitious but achievable target of $3.85 billion over the next five years will be aimed squarely at bucking the trend in the growing number of refugees, displaced persons and children locked out of opportunity during circumstances beyond their control 国产视频� whether it be earthquakes, floods, outbreaks or armed conflict.国产视频�

You can tell world leaders they must commit to make the fund work 国产视频� sign the #SafeSchools petition, which will be handed in at the World Humanitarian Summit.