Hurricanes, heatwaves, floods … extreme meteorological phenomena disturbed school education almost 250 million children all over the world in 2024or one child at seven, UNICEF underlined yesterday, tackling this “neglected” impact of the climate crisis.

“Children are more vulnerable to the consequences of crisis -linked crises, especially stronger and more frequent heat, thunderstorms, droughts and floods, which are more intense and more frequent.” because of her overheating of the planetThe head of the United Nations Fund for childhood, Kathryn Russell noted, according to a press release released yesterday.

“Children’s organizations are particularly vulnerable. Their temperature rises faster and goes down slower because their persecution is not as effective. Children cannot concentrate in classes that do not offer them any relief from the suffocating heat and they cannot even go to school if the road is covered by water or if their school is drifted by torrents. “ Continue.

Classes closed, holiday speed, delay in reopening, timing changes and even destroyed schools: at least 242 million children going from kindergarten to high school – and this is a “conservative” estimate, due to the gaps in the data – in 85 countries. Their education is disturbed last year due to climate shocks, according to UNICEF.

Extreme heat was the main cause, with at least 171 million pupils being affected, including 118 million in April, especially in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Thailand and the Philippines. In these countries, the take -off of temperatures raised children’s hyperthermia risks, while thousands of schools with no air conditioning were closed.

In September, the month during which schools reopen in a large number of countries, traditions were interrupted in 18 countries, especially because of the devastating hurricane Jagi that hit states in East Asia and the Pacific.

South Asia was the area of ​​the world where most problems in schools occurred due to climate shock. With 128 million children being affected. By country, India was more affected by any other (54 million, mainly due to fuel), followed by Bangladesh (35 million, also mainly due to fuel).

These numbers are in danger to grow in the following years If people do not do enough to brake the rise in temperatures.

About half the children in the world – about 1 billion – live in countries where there is a very high risk of climate or environmental shocks.

And if the current orbit of gas emissions causing the greenhouse effect continues, about eight -folds will run in heat in 2050 compared to 2000, 3.1 times more in extreme floods and 1.7 times more in fires, according to UNICEF estimates.

In addition to the temporary impact, the United Nations service for children is worried about prolonged school breaks, as they may lead to stopping to go to school, especially girls.

“Climate change makes the global crisis in education and threatens the ability of children to learn. Today, in estimates, two -thirds of children 10 years cannot read and understand » Simple text, noted in its report. “Climate risks make this situation worse.”

“Education is one of the services that are more often encountered due to climate risks. However, it is often neglected in discussions despite its role in preparing children to adapt to climate change. “noted Kathryn Russell. “The future of children must be at the heart of all plans and actions in terms of climate”he added.

UNICEF is calling for investments both for the renovation of school classrooms and for the construction of new, more resistant to school buildings. Especially in Mozambique, where Sino cyclone in December destroyed, in part or completely, 1,126 classes in 250 schools.