Japan and UNICEF team up to provide Education Emergency Response in Myanmar

Tokyo, Japan 8 October 2015 – The Government of Japan has pledged US$ 10,000,000 to UNICEF to assist children’s education in areas severely affected by floods in Myanmar.

Through this contribution from the Government of Japan, UNICEF in partnership with the Government of Myanmar will support education flood response in Chin and Rakhine. In these two poorest States of Myanmar, children are the most vulnerable to hazards, as evidenced by the recent Child-vulnerabaility Risk Assessment, published by UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement. The project will focus on construction of approximately 30 new primary schools under the principle of “Building Back Better” in order to provide examples of good practice and demonstrate standards of disaster-resistant school construction. Rehabilitation and repair of around 75 damaged schools will also be undertaken.

“We are supporting the Government of Myanmar to lead the recovery process in education, based on building back better with elements of disaster risk reduction, and principles of emergency awareness for education staff, teachers and students”, explains Bertrand Bainvel, UNICEF Representative to Myanmar.

Myanmar is at highest risk of hazards in the Asia-Pacific region, but there are many ways to reduce the vulnerability of children and their families. UNICEF is fully supportive of the Government of Myanmar’s emphasis on ensuring recovery programming aims to reduce vulnerabilities, and further place disaster risk reduction at the centre of its sustainable development strategies.

Throught this project, approximately 12,000 students will directly benefit from construction and repair to school infratructure during the first school year, with a further cohort of around 3,000 students benefitting in the second school year. In addition, education staff training, with a focus on psychosocial support and disaster preparedness, is expected to reach 2,400 Head Teachers and 9,000 teachers, which will have positive impact on over 300,000 students annually.

“This Japanase contribuition will be crucial to provide equitable access to education for children affected by the floods”, adds Bertrand Bainvel. “Together, we will ensure the continuation of teaching and learning in affected schools and strenghened disaster preparedness in Myanmar. Children will know what to do in case of an emergency, and teachers will have the skills to provide them psychosocial support”.

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