Education as a

Humanitarian

Response

Sidney Leite

Intr

oduct

ion

Children around the world

are at risk of not having their

right to education fulfilled.• Conflict areas currently

account for over 40% of

out-of-school children.• Natural disasters are

foreseen to affect 175

million children in the next

decade.

Obje

ctiv

e

Overview of how education

as a humanitarian response can help children:• Gain or maintain access

to education in conflict

situations

• Gain or maintain access

to education in stable

situations

Child

ren A

t R

isk

Children that are not in school risk:• “Losing a sense of normality”

• “Taking on adult roles”

• “Missing out on the benefits of

learning”• “Having fewer opportunities for

further learning”• “Not returning to school, or never

enrolling in or going to school”

• “Psychosocial damage”

• “Being abducted, trafficked, enlisted

or forced to work in armed groups”

• “Being forced to get married”

• “Becoming involved in illegal child

labour”• “Being subject to rape and sexual

violence”Save The Children (2012, p. 2)

A

Com

pre

hensi

ve

Appro

ach

Benefits

Education as a humanitarian response:• Offers protection

• Can help save lives• Nurtures communities• Helps skills building• Prepares for future

crises

Em

erg

ency

vs.

Sta

ble

Sit

uati

ons

Conflic

t Sit

uati

on 1

:Syr

ia

Conflic

t Sit

uati

on 2

:South

Sudan

Conflic

t Sit

uati

on 3

:Sta

te o

f Pa

lest

ine

Conflic

t Sit

uati

on 4

:M

ali

Sta

ble

Sit

uati

on

1:

Colo

mbia

Sta

ble

Sit

uati

on

2:

Angola

Sta

ble

Sit

uati

on

3:

Côte

d’Ivo

ire

Sta

ble

Sit

uati

on

4:

Yem

en

Educa

tion Is

Key!

Education can help in

various humanitarian

response efforts, such

as:• Health services• Access to drinking water• Food and non-food

items• Shelter• Training for peace• Disaster planning

Refe

rence

s

References

Angola. (2014, January). Humanitarian action for children. New York: UNICEF.

Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/appeals/angola.html

Colombia. (2014, January). Humanitarian action for children. New York:

UNICEF. Retrieved from

http://www.unicef.org/appeals/colombia.html

Côte d’Ivoire. (2014, January). Humanitarian action for children. New York:

UNICEF. Retrieved from

http://www.unicef.org/appeals/cote_divoire.html

Mali. (2014, January). Humanitarian action for children. New York: UNICEF.

Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/appeals/mali.html

Save The Children. (2012). Education: An essential component of a humanitarian

response. Geneva: Save The Children.

South Sudan. (2014, February 18). Humanitarian action for children. New York:

UNICEF. Retrieved from

http://www.unicef.org/appeals/south_sudan.html

State of Palestine. (2014). Humanitarian action for children. New York: UNICEF.

Retrieved from

http://www.unicef.org/appeals/state_of_palestine.html

Syria. (2014, January). Humanitarian action for children. New York: UNICEF.

Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/appeals/syria.html

University of Denver. (2011). Education in emergencies: Benefits, best practices,

and

partnerships (Issue-Specific Briefing Paper). Denver, CO: Phillip

Price.

Retrieved from

http://www.du.edu/korbel/criic/humanitarianbriefs/philprice.pdf

Yemen. (2014, January). Humanitarian action for children. New York: UNICEF.

Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/appeals/yemen.html