Ten years after the Chibok abductions, only 37% of schools have early warning systems to identify threats
April 15 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has indicated this Monday that, ten years after the kidnapping of more than 175 girls at the hands of Boko Haram in an assault on a school in the Nigerian city of Chibok, the African country It is still far from being able to guarantee adequate safety conditions in the majority of educational centers.
According to the latest UNICEF report on monitoring minimum standards for security in schools, only 37 percent of educational centers in Nigeria have early warning systems to identify security threats, such as attacks on schools or mass kidnappings like the one that occurred a decade ago in Borno state.
Thus, the representative of the United Nations agency in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, has called on the authorities of the African country to “intensify collective efforts” in order to guarantee security and protect the most vulnerable population sector. how are the kids.
Among these demands, UNICEF has demanded that the Nigerian Government ensure that “all schools in all states” have the necessary resources to implement minimum safety standards, especially in the most vulnerable regions of the country.
Likewise, he has called to correct critical efficiencies in infrastructure so that schools are prepared for natural disasters or conflicts. UNICEF has also called for strengthening security to protect the centers from attacks and kidnappings.
Along with these measures, the United Nations body has asked to accompany all these proposals with a greater budget allocation; as well as implementing television and radio programs to guarantee the continuity of education even when classrooms are closed.
“The abduction of the Chibok girls was a wake-up call to the serious risks our children face in their pursuit of education (…) It is clear that our efforts to safeguard the future of our children must be amplified” , said the UNICEF representative in Nigeria.
According to the UNICEF report, Borno State has 70 percent compliance with standards, a case that “exemplifies a strong commitment to child safety in the midst of adversity,” as highlighted by the UNICEF agency. UN, which also highlights the case of Yobe State.
In contrast, Kaduna and Sokoto states are at the bottom of the safety compliance rate at just 25 percent respectively. Beyond these regulations, UNICEF also advocates implementing accessible infrastructure, as well as teaching staff trained in natural risks, among other aspects.
“Given these alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms, but also the root causes of this crisis. Education is a fundamental right and a crucial route out of poverty. Yet for too many Nigerian children it remains an unattainable dream “added Munduate.
In the last ten years, conflict-related violence has led to the kidnapping of more than 1,680 children and the death of some 180 minors in educational centers. Likewise, about 60 teachers or teaching staff have also been kidnapped, and about fourteen of them have died.
Sunday marked ten years since the mass kidnapping in Chibok at the hands of Boko Haram – which means “Western education is sinful” and fights to impose a radical version of 'sharia' – news that unleashed a wave of indignation across international level materialized in the #BringBackOutGirls campaign.
The work of the security forces and negotiations with the group allowed dozens of girls to be released, while nearly 60 managed to escape on their own, although more than 80 remain captive, without their whereabouts being known and without any information about possible contacts with Boko Haram, now split into two after the emergence of the Islamic State in Central Africa (ISCA) for his release.
