The UN children's agency is launching a USD 2.8 billion appeal to help children in the midst of humanitarian emergencies across the world this year.
UNICEF director of emergency programs in Geneva Sikander Khan says about one-quarter of that appeal aims to go for education, which the agency considers a "life-saving measure for children" at a time when war has shuttered many schools.
The appeal is part of a broader funding drive by the UN humanitarian agency that targets 76 million people in 63 countries.
The largest single chunk of UNICEF's appeal USD 1.16 billion is targeted for Syria and countries including Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan that have taken in millions of refugees from Syria's war. The appeal hopes to help some 5 million Syrian children inside and outside Syria.
