News Note

© UNICEF Somalia/ 2011/ Morooka
Children break for lunch at the primary school in Shabelle camp, Bossaso.

NAIROBI/GENEVA, 9 August 2011 – With an estimated 1.8 million children aged between 5-17 years already out of school in South and Central Somalia, a rapid assessment conducted by the Education Cluster in ten regions warns this number could increase dramatically when schools open in September unless urgent action is taken.

© UNICEF/PHIA2010-0004/Agron Dragaj
Internally displaced school children listening to their teacher during the mathematics class inside temporary classroom provided by UNICEF in Markets side Camp for the displaced people in Talayan, Maguindanao.

By Taleen Vartan

NEW YORK, 25 August 2011 – Since 2006, UNICEF has teamed up with the Government of the Netherlands, the European Commission and other partners to scale up work in education in emergencies and post-crisis transition (EEPCT) countries through the Back on Track programme. This initiative supports countries in emergency and post-crisis transition contexts to establish sustainable progress towards achieving quality basic education for all.

By Catherine Weibel

GAZA STRIP, Occupied Palestinian Territory, 17 August 2011 – Ayman, 15, lives in Khuza’a, an impoverished village in southern Gaza, where extreme poverty has dramatically increased due to the blockade. For Ayman, whether or not he’s able to go to school each day is determined by how much food is left in the cupboards.

“Every morning, the first thing I do is go to the kitchen,” he said. “If there is food, I go to school; if there is none, I go to work.”

© UNICEF/Geogia2010/Matthew Emry
Young researchers during a team exercise in Georgia.

By Rudina Vojvoda

NEW YORK, USA, 11 August 2011 – This week marks the end of the International Year of Youth, a year dedicated to celebrating young people’s achievements as well as creating more opportunities for youth to engage fully in the development of their societies. Although people under 24 represent nearly half of the world’s population, in many countries they often lack freedom, equal opportunities and quality education that is their basic right.

© UNICEF Afghanistan/2010

By Taleen Vartan

NEW YORK, 10 August 2011 – Continuing into its fifth year, the Back on Track Programme on Education in Emergencies and Post-Crisis Transition (EEPCT) – a partnership between the Government of the Netherlands, the European Commission and UNICEF – supports countries in emergency and post-crisis transition contexts to establish sustainable progress towards quality basic education for all.

Pakistan flood crisis, one year on

Children and families continue to cope – and rebuild their lives – a year after devastating monsoon floods struck Pakistan. This is one in a series of stories on their situation, one year on.

By A. Sami Malik

PUNJAB, Pakistan, 3 August 2011 – “Before the floods, this village had a one-room Masjid [mosque] school. Most of the children sat under a tree. We now have this beautiful school, and the children love it,” says Mukhtar Ahmad, Headmaster of the Government Primary School in Mullanwala village, located in the Muzaffargarh District of Pakistan’s Punjab Province.