In the News

Since October 2023, 625,000 children enrolled in schools across Gaza have had no access to education, and more than 370 schools have sustained damage from attacks, according to the United Nations.

Now, in support of efforts to provide girls and boys with access to quality educational opportunities and mental health services, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a USD 2 million First Emergency Response Grant in Gaza.

“2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe, facing inhumane conditions. There is unprecedented violence in modern times, starvation, famine and disease. Desperation and scarcity have led to a total breakdown of the lives of children and adolescents,” Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, the Global Fund for Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises within the United Nations, said when announcing the fast-acting 12-month grant.

Education Cannot Wait (ECW), an agency that promotes education worldwide, said war has kept some 625,000 children out of the classroom, and more than 370 schools have been damaged in attacks.

Furthermore, even before the start of the current hostilities last October, some three quarters of all children – roughly 800,000 – had already been identified as needing mental health and psychosocial support.

ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif said the children of Gaza continue to face unimaginable horrors.

Although the grant “will enable the first steps in restoring mental health and learning services”, she said “it represents a drop in an ocean of needs in Gaza.”

El sufrimiento humano en Gaza se ha cobrado unprecio sin precedentes en los niños y adolescentes que viven en medio de esta experiencia que destroza el alma y que ningún niño debería tener que soportar. En apoyo de los esfuerzos mundialespara proporcionar a las niñas y los niños acceso a oportunidades educativas de calidad y serviciosde salud mental, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) ha anunciado hoy una subvención de 2 millones dedólares para la Primera Respuesta de Emergencia en Gaza. La financiación total de ECW en el Estadode Palestina es de aproximadamente 36 millones de dólares.

El documento de Educo describe un panorama crítico donde conflictos armados, violencia, migración forzosa, desastres naturales y emergencias sanitarias interrumpen la educación de millones de estudiantes. Según datos de Education Cannot Wait (ECW), 78,2 millones de niños y niñas están fuera del sistema escolar, mientras que otros 119,6 millones no adquieren competencias básicas a pesar de estar escolarizados. Además, 24,2 millones de estudiantes, aunque se estima que aprenden a un nivel aceptable, aún sufren los efectos de estas crisis y necesitan apoyo específico.

Now, in support of efforts to provide girls and boys with access to quality educational opportunities and mental health services, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a USD 2 million First Emergency Response Grant in Gaza.

"2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe, facing inhumane conditions. There is unprecedented violence in modern times, starvation, famine and disease. Desperation and scarcity have led to a total breakdown of the lives of children and adolescents,” Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait, the Global Fund for Education in Emergencies and Protracted Crises within the United Nations, said when announcing the fast-acting 12-month grant.

The Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies (EiE Hub) is committed to broadening alliances to shape global debate, influence policymaking and achieve systemic change, creating the conditions to meet the educational needs of crisis-affected and displaced children and youth. Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a US$600,000 grant to the EiE Hub to reinforce these efforts.

The 30-month Acceleration Facility grant will harness the EiE Hub's convening role and alliance of diverse members to strengthen global coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration. It will advance knowledge-sharing and inform policy-making through the production of critical data and global public goods on important themes – such as climate change, financing data, legal protection of education under International Humanitarian Law, and the implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, in close cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross. The new partnership also aims to promote more inclusive global approaches by elevating the voices of crisis-affected populations in policy dialogues and enhancing their participation in decision-making processes.

Amidst the chaos of brutal wars, climate change-induced disasters and forced displacement, education serves as a stabilizing force, providing children and youth with initial healing, protection, and a sense of normalcy and hope amidst upheaval. Yet, despite its lifesaving and life-sustaining role, education in emergencies and protracted crises continues to be under-prioritized and underfunded.

The Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies (EiE Hub) is committed to broadening alliances to shape global debate, influence policymaking and achieve systemic change, creating the conditions to meet the educational needs of crisis-affected and displaced children and youth. Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a US$600,000 grant to the EiE Hub to reinforce these efforts.

In response to the education crisis, the Global Fund for Education in Emergencies, Education Cannot Wait, in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other strategic partners, has announced a grant of US$2.5 million. This financial support will benefit nearly 75,000 children and adolescents in the most affected regions of the Ouest and Artibonite over the next 12 months. This brings their total funding allocated to more than US$15.8 million.

Specifically, in the Ouest department, which includes the capital Port-au-Prince, 39 schools are currently being used as sites for displaced people (IDPs), while at least 20 other schools are occupied by various armed groups and gangs.  

“I can tell you that ourselves and our humanitarian partners on the ground are concerned about the impact of the persisting insecurity on access to education, with the school year set to start in September,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking during his daily briefing from New York. 

Education Cannot Wait, the UN’s fund for education in emergency and crisis situations, recently allocated $2.5 million to support schooling efforts in Haiti. 

At least 919 schools are closed in the Ouest and Artibonite departments, affecting some 156,000 students. In the Ouest Department, which includes the capital Port-au-Prince, 39 schools are serving as sites for displaced people, while at least 20 other schools are being occupied by armed groups.

Last week, Education Cannot Wait, the UN’s fund for education in emergency and crisis situations, allocated US$2.5 million to support schooling efforts in the country, notably in Ouest and Artibonite.

The UN continues to call for support to the ongoing crisis in Haiti. Seven months into the year, the $674 million Humanitarian Response Plan is only 25 percent funded, with $170 million received.

Over 900 schools are closed in the Ouest and Artibonite departments, which impacts 156,000 young people.

Specifically, in the Ouest department, which includes the capital Port-au-Prince, 39 schools are currently being used as sites for displaced people (IDPs), while at least 20 other schools are occupied by various armed groups and gangs.  

“I can tell you that ourselves and our humanitarian partners on the ground are concerned about the impact of the persisting insecurity on access to education, with the school year set to start in September,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking during his daily briefing from New York. 

Education Cannot Wait, the UN’s fund for education in emergency and crisis situations, recently allocated $2.5 million to support schooling efforts in Haiti. 

OCHA and partners are concerned about the impact of the persisting insecurity in Haiti on access to schools, with the school year set to start in September.

At least 919 schools are closed in the Ouest and Artibonite departments, affecting some 156,000 students. In the Ouest Department, which includes the capital Port-au-Prince, 39 schools are serving as sites for displaced people, while at least 20 other schools are being occupied by armed groups.

Last week, Education Cannot Wait, the UN’s fund for education in emergency and crisis situations, allocated US$2.5 million to support schooling efforts in the country, notably in Ouest and Artibonite.