Open Equal Free
Education. Development.
Be A Hero


Ed News

October 2, 2013
 

Crisis in Central African Republic Continues to Threaten Children

Demobilize child soldiers in the Central African RepublicThe United Nations issued an urgent call for humanitarian assistance to the Central African Republic, “the world’s most forgotten emergency.” After the Séléka rebel coalition overthrew the government in March 2013, violence replaced law and order as rebel groups began to fight one another. This ongoing instability continues to threaten a large portion of the country’s population of 5.1 million persons.

The conflict has displaced more than 260,000 people of which 100,000 are children. According to UN human rights expert Chaloka Beyani, “the situation of all those displaced, who hide in remote areas, including in the bush, in poor sanitary conditions and without access to basic services or clean services is extremely worrying.”

The Central African Republic’s 2.3 million children not only face displacement from their homes, but also face the constant threat of violence. Many children witness family members beaten and threatened, while others become victims themselves faced with sexual abuse and forced recruitment into service as child soldiers.

Struggling to survive in this crisis situation, the country’s children have little to no access to education. With schools destroyed, occupied or closed by armed rebel groups, more than one million children remain unschooled. Additionally, teachers, school supplies, and funding remain scarce. As a result, hundreds of thousands of children throughout the country live entirely without education.

Those who escape the violence not only lose their homes but also face harsh conditions due to food scarcity, widespread looting and extreme medical shortages of medication, supplies and staff. As a result, many of the displaced suffer from malaria and malnutrition with no health system in place to support them.

According to Mark Kaye at Save the Children, “this isn’t just a forgotten crisis from the coup. This country has been largely ignored for the best part of a decade now.” Even before this most recent conflict escalation, the Central African Republic ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world according to the Human Development Index.

Creative Commons Love:  hdptcar on Flickr.com

Spread the word!

Comments



Written by:

Amanda Lubit
Amanda Lubit




 
 

 

Tajikistan Receives Grant to Fund Educational Reforms

On October 1, Tajikistan signed an agreement with the World Bank to receive its fourth Global Partnership for Education Fund Grant. This $16.2 million grant will be used to build upon multiple educational initiatives undertaken...
by Amanda Lubit
 

 
 

Rastafarians in Malawi Advocate Equal Education for Dreadlocked Children

Rastafarians in Malawi presented a petition to lift the country’s longtime ban preventing primary school Rastafari students with dreadlocks from attending class. Rastafarians argue that the prohibition is unconstitutional...
by Rachel Pozivenec
 

 
 

Rwandan Children Recruited as Child Soldiers in Congo

Controversial information released by the United Nations accuses the Rwandan government of providing child soldiers to neighboring country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the explicit accounts, Rwandan officials vehe...
by Rachel Pozivenec
 

 

 

Malala Yousafzai Wins Sakharov Prize

Young Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai has won the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The award will be presented by the European Parliament in Starsbourg on November 20. It recognizes Malala’s work defending human...
by Sean Yi
 

 
 

Education Under Attack in Northern Nigeria

Since early 2012, the Islamist militant group Boko Haram has terrorized the northeast states of Nigeria, targeting schools, teachers and students. In response to these attacks, Amnesty International issued a report demanding an...
by Amanda Lubit
 

 
 

Child Abduction in China Feeds the Adoption Industry

Upon the news that the Chinese government has rescued 92 children from a kidnapping ring, there has been renewed international attention to the rise in human trafficking throughout China over the past few years. Some estimate ...
by Amanda Lubit
 

 

 

Celebrate International Day of the Girl this October by Supporting Girls’ Education

On October 11, people around the world will convene to celebrate the second annual International Day of the Girl. Established in December 2011, this year’s theme is “Innovating for Girls’ Education.” The...
by Stephanie Jimenez
 

 
 

Egyptian School Year Begins with Protests

Since Egypt’s school year began on September 21, student protests have spread in opposition to the military-backed government which removed elected President Mohamed Morsi from power in July of this year. Despite warnings iss...
by Amanda Lubit
 

 
 

Jamaica’s Education Minister Currently Revising Foreign Language Curriculum

Jamaica’s Education Minister Honourable Reverend Ronald Thwaites is currently working to improve the country’s foreign language curriculum. Thwaites explained that the “new assessments will be based on new attainm...
by Rachel Pozivenec