Six million children are now at risk of depriving the school by the end of 2026 due to the high reduction of international education aid, UNICEF warned Tuesday.

According to its analysis, Public Development Aid (DAB) intended for education is expected to shrink by $ 3.2 billion until the following year, or in other words 24% compared to 2023. Almost 80% of this reduction is due to cuts by Germany.

If these cuts come true, UNICEF estimates that additional 6 million children are in danger of being deprived of school in 2026, 30% of which live in “humanitarian emergencies”. Their number equals licensed “All Primary Schools in Germany and Italy”stressed the United Nations Fund for childhood in the press release released.

In total, they would increase to 278 million the number of children who lack the school.

“Every dollar cut by education is not just a fiscal decision, it judges the future of a child at stake.”said UNICEF Executive Director Kathryn Russell.

“Education, especially in emergency situations, often becomes a lifeboat, brings children into contact with basic services such as health, protection, nutrition. It also offers the best opportunity for every child to escape poverty »to ‘Build a better life’he added.

The service is particularly concerned about countries where humanitarian crises are unfolding: these are precisely the most glaring cuts. Thus, in some, such as Haiti, Somalia, or Palestinian territories, they estimate that 10% of the national education budget will be lost. Particularly with regard to the refugees of the Rhingia Minority of Myanmar, 350,000 children may be deprived of “permanent” education.

UNICEF also warns against the impact on girls’ training, due to cuts in funding for specific educational programs and the construction of toilets for them.

Geographically, Central and West Africa are in danger of suffering the biggest blow, with 1.9 million children threatened to deprive the school. The Ctregated Coast and Mali are among the states where the impact will be the heaviest.

Apart from what will be completely out of education, another 290 million children at international level are at risk of declining the quality of their education, UNICEF added.