A quarter of school-age children in Lebanon's capital risk missing out on school after last month's deadly port explosion, the International Rescue Committee aid group warned Monday.
"With 163 schools damaged by the Beirut explosion, at least 1 in 4 children in the city are now at risk of missing out on their education," it said in a statement.
IRC said the estimations were based on the impact of the blast alone and did not take into account that of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
"Over 85,000 pupils were registered at the schools damaged by the blasts and it will take up to a year for the most severely damaged buildings to be repaired," it added.
Beirut blast in pictures
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A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of the explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP -
Smoke billows from an area of a large explosion that rocked the harbour area of Beirut, Lebanon. EPA -
The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National -
The scene of the explosion that rocked Beirut. AFP -
The harbour area with smoke billowing from an area of the explosion, Beirut, Lebanon. EPA -
A man reacts at the scene of an explosion at the port in Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP -
The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP -
The scene of the explosion at the port in Beirut. AFP -
The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP -
People gather near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP -
The scene of the blast in Beirut. AFP -
The scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP -
A wounded man is checked by a fireman near the scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP -
A resident stands in the street by a destroyed car, following the explosion near by at the port of Beirut. Bloomberg -
Lebanese Red Cross officers carry an injured woman following an explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. AFP -
Smoke rises after the explosion was heard in Beirut. Reuters -
Firefighters spray water at a blaze after the explosion in Beirut. Reuters -
People walk at scene of the explosion in Beirut. AFP -
The blast at Beirut port. Twitter/ @borzou -
Army personnel around entrance to port. -
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National -
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National -
The aftermath of the blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National -
The aftermath of blast in Beirut. Sunniva Rose / The National -
Sailors leave their damaged ship near the explosion in Beirut. AP Photo -
A vehicle stands damaged on a road following a large explosion at the port area of Beirut. Bloomberg -
Firefighters try to extinguish flames after a large explosion rocked the harbour area of Beirut. EPA -
People and journalists gather at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP -
An injured man sits outside American University of Beirut medical centre on August 5, 2020. Reuters -
Men stand before wrecked buildings near the port. Getty Images -
A man walks by an overturned car and destroyed buildings. Getty Images -
Lebanese soldiers stand outside American University of Beirut medical centre. Reuters -
Injured people stand after the explosion. AP Photo -
People gather by cars destroyed following an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut. AFP -
Wounded people wait to receive treatment outside a hospital following an explosion near the Beirut port. AFP
The massive explosion of a stockpile of ammonium nitrate at Beirut port on August 4 killed more than 190 people, wounded over 6,500 more and ravaged buildings in surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
It was a devastating to blow to a country already facing its worst economic crisis in decades and a series of lockdowns aimed at stemming the spread of Covid-19.
IRC said the slow pace of rebuilding, parent concerns over the cost and safety of transport to alternative schools, and children being sent to work to help their struggling families could all keep pupils out of class.
"Overall, we are expecting to see far fewer children enrolled in schools this September and a high drop-out rate as the year progresses," said the aid group's acting Lebanon director Mohammad Nasser.
Schools in Lebanon have not yet re-opened over a spike in coronavirus cases, which have risen in the wake of the explosion to more than 35,000 infections including at least 340 deaths since February.
