EU announces €164m for 2019 education in emergencies projects

The European Commission announced on Tuesday 164 million euros for Education in Emergencies projects in 2019.

Christos Stylianides, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, said in a press release: "Education in emergencies is an absolute priority for the European Union... It is a global champion of education in emergencies. We are making a concrete investment to peace by helping every child get access to school, anywhere and at all times."

"Education is the foundation for everything else. It is a protective shield against violence, sexual exploitation, or radicalisation, especially in humanitarian crises. It makes children feel safe and provides them with opportunities for a brighter future."

The EU has consistently increased funding in the area of education in emergencies over the last years. Since 2015, the share of the European Commission's humanitarian aid budget spent on education in emergencies has increased from 1 percent in 2015 to 10 percent in 2019, said the press release.

According to the statistics released by EU, over 6.5 million girls, boys and teachers in 55 crisis-affected countries have benefited between 2015-2018 from better access to quality education and training since the EU increased support for children caught up in humanitarian crises.