What Is the Impact of Cyclone on Vanuatu’s Children?

Nearly 45,000 children cannot go to school in cyclone-damaged Vanuatu. Many of Vanuatu’s schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving the school-aged children without access to education, says Save the Children.

Cyclone Pam that hit the Oceanian island nation Saturday has caused extensive damage to Vanuatu.

“The cyclone has effectively knocked out Vanuatu’s schools system. It is estimated that nearly 45,000 school-aged children cannot go to school, mainly because their school has been damaged, destroyed or is presently being used as an evacuation center for people made homeless by the cyclone,” said Save the Children’s Tom Skirrow in Vanuatu.

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“We expect that schools will remain closed for some time. Children who are out of school are at increased risk of exploitation or abuse. There will likely be a need both for temporary learning spaces and support for school rehabilitation, so that children can resume learning as soon as possible,” said Skirrow.

Save the Children is a humanitarian organization.