UNICEF has on Tuesday in New York appealed for 2.8 billion dollars in aid to assist 43 million children living in humanitarian crises worldwide. Afshan Khan, UNICEF’s Director of Emergency Programmes, said that a large portion of the appeal would go toward funding education. He said one-fourth of the appeal would be used to educate children in emergencies and to get 5 million Syrian children living in and outside the country into schools.

Khan said the number of children living in humanitarian crises with access to schools from 4.9 million at the beginning of last year to 8.2 million this year. “Education is a life-saving measure for children, providing them with the opportunity to learn and play, amidst the carnage of gunfire and grenades. UNICEF noted that its current appeal had doubled what it was just three years ago.