Kunar Earthquake Halts Education for Thousands of Children
In Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, the recent devastating earthquakes have not only destroyed homes but also severely damaged numerous schools, leaving thousands of students without access to education.
Residents of the affected areas report that the destruction of schools has prevented their children from attending classes. Even two weeks after the earthquakes, the Taliban have yet to take any steps to rebuild these damaged schools.
Ataullah Sapi, whose three sons were enrolled in school, said: “One of my sons died in the earthquake, two others were injured, and their school was completely destroyed.”
Meanwhile, many students living in remote areas who previously attended local classrooms are now deprived of education due to the destruction of these facilities, leaving them anxious about their future.
Ten-year-old Seyed Imran has called on humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to rebuild the damaged schools: “Education is my dream. I want to become a doctor in the future. I hope our school will be rebuilt.”
Mohammad Tayeb, a ninth-grade student from Nurgal district, also emphasized that in addition to other aid, attention must be given to the challenges in education to restore the learning process for students: “All schools in our district have been destroyed, and we want them rebuilt. If they are not, we will be permanently deprived of education.”
According to the Taliban’s Department of Education in Kunar, more than 157,000 students in the province have been affected by the earthquake. They report that 391 students, including three teachers, have died, and around 780 others have been injured. Nearly 500 classrooms built with UNICEF support have also been destroyed.
Save the Children reported that the recent earthquakes in Kunar alone have killed 1,150 students, including 500 girls, and affected many more. The organization stressed that thousands of children urgently need both emergency assistance and long-term psychological support.
