Pakistan just witnessed the worst onslaught of floods in its recent history, like something out of a

dystopian novel, they have destroyed everything in their path; displacing millions, wiping out hospitals,
houses, schools, places of worship. There have been no exceptions. Floodwaters are finally beginning to
recede, but it will take months before they completely subside, and an arduous journey lies ahead as
people scramble to regain some semblance of normalcy amid the wreckage. Children are particularly
vulnerable during this time.

As many as 2 million schools have been destroyed in the wake of these floods: UNICEF reports that “the
tops of school buildings are only just beginning to become visible” and there appear to be no clear plans
for reconstruction. Remote learning isn’t exactly an option either, considering the damage to crucial
infrastructure such as electricity poles, affecting connectivity.

Pakistan’s floods came at an ill-fated time, after a long and protracted pandemic that saw school
closures all across the country. Access to educational resources was already limited and children were
only just getting accustomed to on-site learning again when disaster struck. Many children are fighting
an interminable battle against water-borne diseases such as malaria and typhoid whereas others suffer
from severe malnutrition; they are scrambling to survive in inhospitable conditions that accommodate
no real space for learning.

But schools are more than just places of learning; they provide psycho-social support to children who
are otherwise exposed to exploitative practices such as child labor and forced marriages. Reports of
underage flood-victims being assaulted have already begun to surface. By instituting structure into lives
that are marked with uncertainty and chaos, schools encourage children to aspire to something beyond
what they are familiar with. This is an essential skill for children living in post-disaster conditions
because it creates a long-term plan for them when they have no other options. Indeed, education may
be the most life-saving rehabilitative practice of all. This is a time when all hands need to be on deck—
the state must combine its resources and work with the international community to rebuild places of
learning and develop a comprehensive framework to protect children in post-disaster areas before it is
too late and all hope is lost.