The NGO estimates that more than 14,000 schools are closed in this part of the continent, with hundreds of thousands of children out of school.
September 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –
More than 14,000 schools have been forced to close due to violence and insecurity in Central and West Africa, leaving hundreds of thousands of children out of school in the region, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said on Monday, saying education is “under siege” in this part of the continent.
The NGO, which has stressed that children’s right to education must be protected, has warned that the future of an entire generation is at risk due to the spread of insecurity in this part of the African continent, shaken by attacks by numerous armed groups, including branches of Al Qaeda and Islamic State.
The UN Secretary-General stressed that millions of children were affected in 2023 by school closures in Burkina Faso, Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while stating that many of them are at risk of being recruited by armed groups or being victims of child labour, physical violence and sexual exploitation.
“Education is under siege in West and Central Africa. Deliberate attacks on schools and systematic denial of education due to conflict are nothing short of a catastrophe,” said Hassane Hamadou, NRC Director for West and Central Africa.
In this regard, she stressed that “every day that a child does not attend school is a day stolen from their future and from the future of their communities.” “We urgently call on all parties to the conflict to cease attacks and occupation of schools and to ensure that education is protected and given priority,” she added.
The organisation has specified that the combined crises in Cameroon left 1.4 million children in need of educational support in 2023, while violence and inter-community tensions in the DRC have led to the closure of nearly 1,460 schools since the beginning of the year, affecting more than half a million children.
She stressed that these situations have long-term consequences and warned that without urgent intervention, the region could lose “an entire generation.” Girls are also at greater risk of forced marriage and exploitation, which exacerbates social and gender inequalities.
In contrast, the number of attacks on schools in Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) decreased between 2022 and 2023, while nearly 1,300 schools have reopened this year in areas controlled by the Burkina Faso authorities, allowing thousands of children to return to school.
“The reopening of schools in Burkina Faso and the reduction in attacks on education in Mali and CAR show that progress is possible,” Hamadou said, calling for “building on this momentum to ensure that all children have access to safe, inclusive and quality education.”
The NRC has thus called on the international community, governments and parties to the conflict to act to protect education and end attacks on schools, while calling for sufficient funding for educational programmes in conflict zones.
“Education is a lifeline for children in crisis areas. We cannot allow violence to rob them of their future,” Hamadou said. “We urge all parties to prioritise the protection of education and work together to ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn and thrive.”
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