33 photos show what it's like to go to school in a war zone

Advertisement
33 photos show what it's like to go to school in a war zone

A displaced Syrian boy writes on a whiteboard in an UNICEF tent converted into a school at a camp near al-Dana town in northwestern Syria on September 10, 2019.

Advertisement
  • An estimated 420 million children are living in war zones. In 2017, 262 million children were thought to be out of school.
  • The worst areas affected are Africa and the Middle East, in countries like Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
  • Schooling continues, in whatever way it can, but it's not a long-term solution.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Conflict around the world is costing hundreds of millions of children their educations.

In 2019, Save the Children said one in five kids were living in a conflict zone. In February, the non-profit estimated 420 million children were living in war zones, and in 2017, the United Nations estimated 262 million children were out of school, because of conflict.

In war-torn countries like Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, classrooms have formed wherever possible - beneath trees, in the skeletons of bombed-out schools, or on special buses. Classes continue, even when walls have been reduced to rubble and sunlight pours in through holes in the roof.

These photos show what it's like to go to school in a war zone.

Advertisement
{{}}

A century ago, Save the Children's founder Eglantyne Jebb said, "Every war is a war against children." According to the non-profit, 420 million children now live in war zones around the world.

A century ago, Save the Children's founder Eglantyne Jebb said, "Every war is a war against children." According to the non-profit, 420 million children now live in war zones around the world.

Sources: USA Today, Stop The War on Children

In Syria, the school day begins with the journey there. Here, students take an improvised taxi to school. Faces are pressed against the window, while bags are placed on top of the car.

In Syria, the school day begins with the journey there. Here, students take an improvised taxi to school. Faces are pressed against the window, while bags are placed on top of the car.
Advertisement

In Yemen, 2 million children are currently not going to school. For those who are, the circumstances are less than ideal. This boy, with his pet goat, is heading to his classroom in a field, after funding for a new school dried up when war broke out in 2015.

In Yemen, 2 million children are currently not going to school. For those who are, the circumstances are less than ideal. This boy, with his pet goat, is heading to his classroom in a field, after funding for a new school dried up when war broke out in 2015.

Source: Al Jazeera

School begins with the morning bell. In the Al-Zaatara refugee camp near Syria's border, a teacher lets the children know classes are about to start.

School begins with the morning bell. In the Al-Zaatara refugee camp near Syria's border, a teacher lets the children know classes are about to start.
Advertisement

Once school is underway, some children are lucky enough to sit at desks. Here, students work in semi-darkness, in the rebel-held Idlib Province in Syria in early 2019.

Once school is underway, some children are lucky enough to sit at desks. Here, students work in semi-darkness, in the rebel-held Idlib Province in Syria in early 2019.

Despite chipped walls, they participate and follow classroom protocol, like raising their hands.

Despite chipped walls, they participate and follow classroom protocol, like raising their hands.
Advertisement

White boards, at least what's left of them, are still used.

White boards, at least what's left of them, are still used.

In Taez, Yemen, a class sits with its back to rubble on the first day of the year in 2019. Their classroom was heavily damaged in an airstrike in 2018.

In Taez, Yemen, a class sits with its back to rubble on the first day of the year in 2019. Their classroom was heavily damaged in an airstrike in 2018.
Advertisement

According to Save the Children, two in five children in the Middle East live within 31 miles of a conflict.

According to Save the Children, two in five children in the Middle East live within 31 miles of a conflict.

Source: DW

In Syria, instead of practicing fire drills, children prepare for air strikes. They crouch under desks and cover their heads.

In Syria, instead of practicing fire drills, children prepare for air strikes. They crouch under desks and cover their heads.
Advertisement

In Mosul, Iraq, an elementary school class is taught to identify different types of landmines.

In Mosul, Iraq, an elementary school class is taught to identify different types of landmines.

Holes in walls are a common sight. In Iraq, girls can be seen studying through a hole in 2017.

Holes in walls are a common sight. In Iraq, girls can be seen studying through a hole in 2017.
Advertisement

Some school's roofs, like this one is Damascus, are crumbling — a visible sign of air strikes.

Some school's roofs, like this one is Damascus, are crumbling — a visible sign of air strikes.

Others no longer have staircases. In the Syrian city Douma, due to heavy shelling on a daily basis, 48 schools were also moved underground to keep young civilians safe.

Others no longer have staircases. In the Syrian city Douma, due to heavy shelling on a daily basis, 48 schools were also moved underground to keep young civilians safe.

Source: Al Jazeera

Advertisement

At lunchtime, children still play. But instead of a jungle gym or sandbox, partially destroyed walls and buildings become props for games.

At lunchtime, children still play. But instead of a jungle gym or sandbox, partially destroyed walls and buildings become props for games.

Other Syrian children swing over the damaged remains of their school, on the outskirts of Damascus.

Other Syrian children swing over the damaged remains of their school, on the outskirts of Damascus.
Advertisement

Many children aren't fortunate enough to even have the skeleton of a school left. According to UNICEF, one in five schools can't be used due to the conflict. Tents often have to suffice.

Many children aren't fortunate enough to even have the skeleton of a school left. According to UNICEF, one in five schools can't be used due to the conflict. Tents often have to suffice.

Source: Al Jazeera

In the north west of Syria, near Al-Dana, UNICEF provides lessons in converted tents.

In the north west of Syria, near Al-Dana, UNICEF provides lessons in converted tents.

Source: Al Jazeera

Advertisement

Aid groups do what they can, but it gets crowded.

Aid groups do what they can, but it gets crowded.

Source: Al Jazeera

Elsewhere in Syria, in Idlib and Hama, mobile schools, formerly buses, are being used as classrooms to teach displaced children.

Elsewhere in Syria, in Idlib and Hama, mobile schools, formerly buses, are being used as classrooms to teach displaced children.
Advertisement

The project teaches about 1,000 children, aged between five and 12, who have dropped out of school since the civil war began in 2011.

The project teaches about 1,000 children, aged between five and 12, who have dropped out of school since the civil war began in 2011.

Source: CNN

Inside the bus, it's colorful. The students learn Arabic, English, math, painting, and singing. It's an answer to schooling concerns for those in the area, but it's not enough.

Inside the bus, it's colorful. The students learn Arabic, English, math, painting, and singing. It's an answer to schooling concerns for those in the area, but it's not enough.
Advertisement

Other displaced Syrian children learn sitting on the ground of an olive grove in Idlib.

Other displaced Syrian children learn sitting on the ground of an olive grove in Idlib.

In Yemen, classes are also taught wherever there's space. In the Hajjah province, a class learns under the shade of a tree.

In Yemen, classes are also taught wherever there's space. In the Hajjah province, a class learns under the shade of a tree.
Advertisement

In the same area, students are taught in a makeshift school, which at least has walls to shelter them.

In the same area, students are taught in a makeshift school, which at least has walls to shelter them.

But it's without a roof.

But it's without a roof.
Advertisement

And in such an arid climate, finding shade inside the classroom is imperative. In September, daily highs in this area of Yemen are often in the upper 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

And in such an arid climate, finding shade inside the classroom is imperative. In September, daily highs in this area of Yemen are often in the upper 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Afghanistan, school kids also learn in a roofless classroom. They sit beside rubble that used to be their school, in the Nangarhar province.

In Afghanistan, school kids also learn in a roofless classroom. They sit beside rubble that used to be their school, in the Nangarhar province.
Advertisement

Here, boys sit in a tent classroom in the Herat Province. UNICEF funds a school that teaches girls in the morning and boys in the afternoon.

Here, boys sit in a tent classroom in the Herat Province. UNICEF funds a school that teaches girls in the morning and boys in the afternoon.

Despite the work done by teachers and volunteers, these classrooms are a temporary answer to educating children in a war zone.

Despite the work done by teachers and volunteers, these classrooms are a temporary answer to educating children in a war zone.
Advertisement

As Alaa al-Khamooneh, a math teacher working in underground classrooms in Douma, told Al Jazeera, "We couldn't imagine staying here giving lessons under such circumstances."

As Alaa al-Khamooneh, a math teacher working in underground classrooms in Douma, told Al Jazeera, "We couldn't imagine staying here giving lessons under such circumstances."

Source: Al Jazeera

"We are doing our best for the next generation and we hope that they will have a better future," he said.

"We are doing our best for the next generation and we hope that they will have a better future," he said.

Source: Al Jazeera

Advertisement

For now, schooling continues whatever way it can. When the school day is over, children head on home.

For now, schooling continues whatever way it can. When the school day is over, children head on home.
Next StoryNational security officials say Trump revealed secret US tactics by describing the raid that killed ISIS leader al-Baghdadi, possibly compromising future operations