Education is a prominent casualty in crisis situations, but it also plays a critical role in emergency response. Continued access to school provides a place of protection and sense of normalcy for children, while effective approaches to learning and inclusion foster resilience, and support longer-term processes of economic recovery and peace. With refugee numbers hitting headlines again, we reflect on two focus areas developed over more than 20 years’ experience working in fragile and conflict-affected states.
According to latest UN estimates, more than six million people have fled Ukraine since February 2021 and many more have been displaced within the country. This latest crisis adds to the escalating number of displaced people and refugee populations around the world – 26.3 million refugees, half of whom are children (UNHCR). Beyond this, an estimated 128 million primary and secondary aged children are out of school in crisis-affected countries.
