The Hidden Victims of War: How the Iran Conflict is Wrecking Education Worldwide

The war in Iran may not be making headlines for its immediate, devastating effects on civilians, but it’s quietly wreaking havoc on a crucial sector: education. While the world fixates on the conflict’s military dimensions, a lesser-known consequence is unfolding. The price of fuel, driven up by the war, is forcing families to choose between keeping their children in school and putting food on the table.

In Cambodia, 13-year-old Sou Sreynich is one such child. Her family relies on fishing and occasional odd jobs to survive, but with fuel prices skyrocketing, they’re struggling to make ends meet. Like many children in Southeast Asia, Sreynich has dropped out of school to help her parents eke out a living. Her dream of becoming a teacher seems increasingly distant.

According to UNICEF’s recent report, up to 23.4 million more children could be pushed into poverty by the end of the year. Eighty percent of these children would hail from Africa and Asia, where education is already under strain due to climate change, poverty, and conflict. The Iran war’s impact on education may not be as visible as COVID-19’s, but it’s hitting the poorest families first.

In Vietnam, Ly and her sister Nhi dropped out of school after their father lost his fishing job due to the war-driven diesel price hike. They were forced to work in a restaurant to survive, facing exploitation and the danger of child labor laws being flouted. Intervention by a local nonprofit saved them from further harm.

The ripple effects of the Iran conflict on education are being felt far beyond Southeast Asia. Developing countries reliant on imported energy are struggling to keep schools running as costs skyrocket. Fertilizer prices, already a major concern for agriculture-dependent economies, are set to rise even higher due to disrupted shipments. In Bangladesh, years of progress in education and poverty reduction may be undone as the government’s finances come under pressure.

The consequences of this crisis will be dire. Children not in school are more vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking, and homelessness. Girls, already disproportionately affected by economic hardships, face a heightened risk of dropping out of school and being married off early. In South Asia alone, 45% of child brides live in countries with economies struggling to cope with the war’s fallout.

Education is often seen as a safe haven for children caught in conflict zones. However, this war is exposing the fragility of that assumption. As governments struggle to balance their budgets under the weight of rising fuel costs, education programs are being squeezed. School meals, which provide a lifeline for millions of children worldwide, may soon become a luxury too expensive for many families.

The Iran war’s impact on education is not just a humanitarian crisis; it’s also an economic and social one. Governments and international organizations must prioritize education as a vital tool in the fight against poverty and conflict. The stakes are high: if we fail to act, we risk setting back years of progress in education and condemning millions of children to a life of exploitation and hardship.

In the end, it’s not just about keeping schools open; it’s about giving children like Sou Sreynich a chance at a better future. The Iran conflict is forcing families to choose between survival and education – a choice no child should ever have to make.