ISLAMABAD: A new climate-resilient school, built by ‘Save the Children’ and recently handed over to the provincial education department, has been opened, according to a statement issued by the international aid organisation on Thursday.

The school replaces a building that was destroyed in the 2022 floods and is designed to withstand flooding, with high ceilings and increased ventilation to keep students cool during intense heatwaves, and with solar panels to provide sustainable, uninterrupted electricity. It would benefit 412 students, the organisation said.

“The hope is that the new climate-resilient school will pave the way for future similar projects in Sindh where about 19,808 schools were damaged or destroyed two years ago, disrupting learning for 2.9 million children,” it added.

It noted that since the floods, only one in five schools -- or around 4,000 -- have been or are being rebuilt due to a lack of funding, leaving about 2.3 million children without adequate classrooms.

Intense heatwaves are also jeopardising children’s health and their rights.

‘Save the Children’ says that cyclone-proof food, climate-resilient schools and aid delivering drones are just some of the ways, the organisation has been tackling the impacts of the climate crisis on children in 2024.

With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe, the aid organisation is at the forefront of supporting children and their families to survive and adapt, according to the statement.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024