Families in Basra and Baghdad’s Sadr City have been plunged into one of the most violent episodes in Iraq’s recent history.
As Iraq’s security forces continue to fight against militia groups, widespread clashes and curfews kept families trapped indoors and led to shortages of water, food and medical supplies. While life is slowly returning to normal in Basra, fighting is ongoing in Sadr City. Life for children there has become harder and more frightening.
Addressing shortages of water and medical supplies in Sadr City are immediate humanitarian priorities. Education is also under threat. Most of the city’s primary and secondary schools are closed. More than 20 schools have been reported damaged in the violence, with unconfirmed numbers of students and teachers killed. UNICEF is calling for schools to be protected as a priority. According to reports from people on the ground, some empty schools are hosting families who have been displaced. Still others may be in use by military forces. "Schools are a haven for children in times of conflict," said UNICEF Iraq Chief of Education Mette Nordstrand. "They are protected under international law as zones of peace. No matter what the circumstances, the only proper use for an Iraqi school is to educate and protect Iraqi children."
Tags: Iraq, Schools, Children, Education, UNICEF, |
