Yemen conflict leaves 3.4 million children out of school

Women take pictures after an air strike on a school and bowling club in Sana国产视频檃 on February 16

The conflict in Yemen has caused thousands of deaths and widespread food shortages. It is also wrecking the education of millions of children.

More than 3.4 million are now out of school and more than 1170 schools are unfit for use because of the civil war, according to the United Nations国产视频� humanitarian chief.

Warning of an unfolding 国产视频渉umanitarian crisis国产视频�, Stephen O国产视频橞rien briefed the UN Security Council this week on the effects of the conflict that began just under a year ago.

He said more than 6000 people had been killed and 35,000 injured since March 2015 when fighting started between the Yemeni government 国产视频� backed by a Saudi-led coalition 国产视频� and Houthi rebels.

Blaming all parties in the conflict, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said he is 国产视频渆xtremely concerned国产视频� about increasing restrictions on humanitarian access and deliveries.

The figure of 3.4 million children out of school has risen dramatically since the UN children国产视频檚 agency UNICEF put the number at 1.8 million in late 2015.

In December the Yemeni Ministry of Education said more than 1000 schools were out of operation 国产视频� 254 completely destroyed, 608 partially damaged and 421 being used as shelters for people internally displaced by the conflict.

A guard walks past what remains of Ibn Sina School, in Sana国产视频檃 after an air strike in 2015 Picture: UNICEF/Mahmoud

The human rights group Amnesty International also reported that Saudi-led air strikes had targeted schools.

The UN国产视频檚 envoy to Yemen,听Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, told the Security Council this week that 82% of Yemen国产视频檚 population are now in dire need of food, medicine and other aid.

Urging the council to push for a halt to the fighting to pave the way to a permanent ceasefire and peace talks, he added: 国产视频淵emen has suffered greatly and its people have withstood an unspeakable tragedy.国产视频�

Yemen is not the only country where schools have been affected by conflicts. Students, teachers and school buildings have been attacked in more than 70 countries in recent years 国产视频� by armed groups, state soldiers and criminal gangs.

To counteract this, more than 50 countries have now signed the Safe Schools Declaration. It commits them to protect education from attack and to use the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict.

Schools and temporary learning spaces provide safe and secure environments for children to be with each other and begin to cope with the trauma of living through an emergency.

Find out what国产视频檚 being done to help education in emergencies