Beirut blast put 1 in 4 children at risk of missing school
The Aug. 4 explosion in Lebanon's capital damaged 163 schools and left 85,000 students and their families with tough choices.
Nearly two months after Beirut was devastated by a massive explosion, at least one in four children in the Lebanese capital are at risk of missing out on school, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said Monday.
“Instead of being able to enjoy their summer holidays, children in Beirut had their lives torn apart by the explosions on Aug. 4,” Mohammad Nasser, the IRC’s acting country director in Lebanon, said in a statement. “Children need stability in their lives and school is usually the one place where they can get it.”
More than 85,000 students attended the 163 schools damaged in the explosion, the New York-based group said, warning that it may take up to a year for the worst-hit buildings to be repaired. Lebanon’s Ministry of Education is tasked with finding new schooling locations before the academic year begins in mid-October.
IRC said that children may need to travel long distances to reach their new schools, some of which are adding afternoon and evening school shifts to accommodate the influx of students. The IRC expects many families may choose to not send their children — especially girls — to school over fears they won’t be safe on public transportation at night.
