World Humanitarian Summit: No refugee child out of school for more than a month
As the first ever World Humanitarian Summit looms next week in Istanbul Save the Children is calling for a new deal for
refugee children. Save the Children is calling for no refugee child to be out of school for more than 30 days after
being displaced.
Both the report and new video released ahead of the summit show the grim reality of a child displaced by humanitarian
crisis. Education is critical for all children, but it’s especially urgent for the millions of girls and boys forced to
flee their homes.
“At least half of all refugee children are missing out on an education. We’re creating a lost generation of children who
grow up uneducated,” says Save the Children CEO Heather Hayden.
“There are at least 3.5 million refugee children around the world out of school today as a result of a humanitarian
crisis, be it violence, extreme poverty, an emergency or climate change. We know refugee children are five times less
likely than other children to attend school. Not being in school leaves children vulnerable to discrimination and
potential abuse,” says Ms Hayden.
“We’re asking donors and member states to provide better financial, legal, and political support for host-country
governments. They need to make sure that child refugees in their countries are in school and learning.”
The report focusses on four areas that Save the Children want Governments to commit to: the guarantee of an education
for every displaced child; protection for all displaced children; long-term solutions to protracted displacement; and
upholding existing rules and standards.
ENDS