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Myanmar floods hit 80,000 children and close 1300 schools

Education in emergencies

Large parts of Myanmar have been hit Picture: UNICEF Myanmar

Millions of children in Myanmar were already missing out on school. Their families are poor and they face a bleak future.

Despite progress, 4.4 million children aged five to 18 do not attend school and 10 million live in poverty, according to 2014 census data from the southeast Asian country.

Last month the representative for the United Nations children国产视频檚 agency UNICEF in Myanmar told candidates in forthcoming historic elections 国产视频渢o make new commitments for children国产视频 to improve spending on education, health and social welfare.

Then the floods came. Cyclone Komen made landfall in Bangladesh on July 30 and then swept into Myanmar, bringing with it heavy rain, wind and landslides to a country already affected by weeks of monsoon rain. The water has devastated large areas and the education ministry said more than 1300 schools have been closed.

Save The Children said up to 80,000 children are among more than 150,000 people affected. It has sent assessment teams to the worst affected parts of听Magway and Rakhine 国产视频 two of four regions declared as disaster zones.

Jose Ravano, Acting Country Director for Save The Children in Myanmar, said today: 国产视频淭his disaster has left tens of thousands of children vulnerable and we are particularly concerned for their welfare and safety as whole regions have been left under water. Children may be in distress due to the displacement and destruction, and some have fled their homes without any essential supplies.国产视频

He said Save The Children teams had to be to areas of Rakhine State and Magway Division, adding that at least 14,000 families there have been affected. Schools are shut, families have been displaced and homes are flooded.

Mr Ravano added: 国产视频淔amilies who have lost their livelihoods will also need long-term recovery support and schools will need rehabilitation.国产视频

The death toll has been put at 47 by the government but that number is expected to rise.

UNICEF warned of a 国产视频渄ouble catastrophe国产视频, saying already vulnerable children face particular hardships because the floods will add to the existing problems of poverty, violence and conflict.

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Children with their family at an evacuation camp in Sagaing region

UNICEF国产视频檚 Deputy Representative in Myanmar Shalini Bahuguna said:听国产视频淭he floods are hitting children and families who are already very vulnerable, including听those living in camps in Rakhine state.

国产视频淭here are 140,000 displaced children and families in Rakhine alone.国产视频 Beyond the immediate impact, the floods will have a longer term impact on the livelihoods听of these families.国产视频

Schools are among buildings being used as safe shelters for those who have fled the flooding.

The government, local authorities, Myanmar Red Cross Society and other organisations 国产视频 backed by UN agencies and other international bodies 国产视频 are working to rescue survivors and distribute vital supplies such as water, food and blankets.

A World at School has been at the forefront of a campaign to establish a funding mechanism to help education in emergencies.听Last year only 1% of all humanitarian aid went to education in emergencies, which includes conflicts and natural disasters.

At the Oslo Education Summit in July,听the Global Humanitarian Platform and Fund for Education in Emergencies was agreed. World leaders decided to move forward on developing a system to improve how aid is provided in emergencies and urgently address the gap in funding.

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