Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 10 May 2024

UNICEF

PRESS RELEASE

UNICEF condemns attack on girls’ school in North Waziristan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – 9 May 2024: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) strongly condemns the attack on a girls’ school in Shiwah Tehsil of North Waziristan, calling it a despicable and cowardly act that could jeopardise the future of many young and talented girls. 

Explosives used in the attack caused serious damage to the structure of the school, reportedly the only for girls in the area.

“While only yesterday, Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, declared an education emergency in the country pledging to work towards enrolling 26m out-of-school children in the country, destruction of a girls’ school in a remote and underserved area is a heinous crime detrimental to national progress,” said Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.

“Schools must always remain safe learning environments to protect the growth and healthy development of children, adolescents and young people,” he added.

UNICEF and other development partners to the Government of Pakistan, stand committed to uphold and deliver education as the fundamental right of all children, boys and girls, everywhere.

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org and www.unicef.org/pakistan. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For more information, please contact:

Abdul Sami Malik, UNICEF Pakistan, +92-300-855-6654, asmalik@unicef.org