In a press release on 2 June, Save the Children says tens of thousands of students across Myanmar are forced to attend classes in hot and crowded temporary shelters since their schools are among the 2,500 damaged or destroyed in the March earthquake.
The schools have yet to be rebuilt.
The text of the press release continues below.
Zin Phyo*, 10, saw his family home and his school destroyed in the powerful earthquake and now, as the new school year begins in Myanmar, he wishes he could rebuild the school his community lost.
Zin Phyo told Save the Children:
“If I had magic powers, I would bring the houses and school back to how they were before. I also want my friends to be happy. Now, some of them don’t feel happy when we play together. Some are even afraid to come back to school.”
“If I get the chance to go back to school, I will clean my classroom and wear my school uniform proudly.”
Save the Children is supporting Zin Phyo’s village with education kits including school bags, stationary items and t-shirts to help children to continue their learning. The aid agency has also provided Zin Phyo and his community with lifesaving essentials such as food and clean water, and set up safe spaces where children can play, receive emotional support and just be children again.
Even before the March earthquake, the scale of humanitarian needs in Myanmar were already at an all-time high. Conflict and climate fueled disasters have left 6.3 million children already in need of humanitarian support.
Abdurahman Sharif, Senior Humanitarian Director at Save the Children International, said:
“Despite the huge scale of the crisis in Myanmar the international community’s response has been woefully inadequate. In a crisis like the one Myanmar is experiencing, children need lifesaving aid and education is truly lifesaving. It protects children in a safe space and provides a sense of stability.”
“A coordinated and sustained effort from the international community is central to addressing the multi-faceted challenges that the earthquake-affected children and families are still facing. They must not be forgotten.”
Children and families in earthquake hit areas of the country continue to need critical education support in addition to other urgent needs including access to food, drinking water, and to shelter.
Save the Children has been working in Myanmar since 1995, providing life-saving healthcare, food and nutrition, education and child protection programs. Save the Children and its partners have a presence in most of the earthquake-affected areas in Myanmar and have been working around the clock to provide support to children and families with essential relief items. We've also provided safe spaces for children to play and receive emotional support.
