Somalia has been hit by a cycle of climate disasters in recent years. Severe droughts, followed by catastrophic floods, have displaced hundreds of thousands. In Hirshabelle State alone, entire villages have been washed away.
To allow displaced children to attend school, the Norwegian Refugee Council has built temporary learning spaces in Towfiq camp. The blog focuses on Sundus, a girl who had to stop education for three years. In Somalia, being out of school has devastating consequences. Displaced girls face heightened risks of child marriage, child labour, and recruitment into armed groups.
According to the education cluster, an estimated 4.9 million children are out of school, and disparities are stark: school attendance among newly displaced children is as low as 21 per cent, compared with 39 per cent for non-displaced children. Sundus is back in school and says: “School keeps us safe”.