Ensuring School Safety: Protecting Children from Natural Disasters
Central Asian Countries Meet to Ensure Safety of Educational Institutions
On September 28, 2024, representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan to discuss the safety of educational institutions and the protection of children from natural disasters. The meeting, which was attended by organizations such as UNICEF, UNESCO, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Government of Japan, and the World Bank, focused on the progress in implementing a comprehensive school safety program for the years 2022-2030 in Central Asia.
UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, emphasized the importance of schools providing a safe learning environment where children are not in danger. Central Asia faces threats such as earthquakes, floods, and extreme weather events, which jeopardize the safety of children and their access to education. Many schools in the region are located in disaster-prone areas, making them structurally vulnerable and at significant risk.
International organizations have offered policy recommendations to governments and partners to enhance school safety, ensuring all children have equitable and continuous access to quality education. Participants from the region are calling for increased investment in strengthening school infrastructure to better protect students and staff from natural disasters.
The efforts of Central Asian countries and their partners demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding the well-being and education of children in the region, highlighting the importance of prioritizing school safety in disaster-prone areas.
