Over the last decade, violent conflicts have surged by two-thirds and displacement is currently at a record high and length – around 71 million people have been forcibly displaced for as long as 20 years on average. In education, a different but equally serious crisis exists.

A new report launched today by Somalia—titled the Somalia Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS) Report 2020—offers the country’s decision makers and stakeholders vital information on the health and lives of Somali women of childbearing ages and children.

Global school closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic present an unprecedented risk to children’s education, protection and wellbeing.

While cases of COVID-19 appear to be fewer among children (and symptoms generally milder), national responses to the pandemic can have important consequences for child nutrition and educational outcomes.

World Vision’s aspiration for all children is for them to be “Educated for Life” — from birth all the way through and beyond adolescence. We believe education plays an important role in breaking the cycle of poverty and helps children reach their full potential.

Education systems around the world are facing an unprecedented challenge in the wake of massive school closures mandated as part of public health efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Over 1.5 billion students at all levels are now affected by this educational disruption.

COVID-19 has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures and made online platforms and communities essential to maintaining a sense of normalcy. Children and their families are turning to digital solutions more than ever to support children’s learning, socialization and play.

This report analyses trends as well as data availability for monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia and the Pacific and its five sub regions. It assesses gaps which must be closed to achieve the goals by 2030.

The Budget Estimates of ` 65,000 crore in 2020-21 is 8.33 percent higher than the Budget Estimates of ` 60,000 crore in 2019-20 and 18.61% over Revised Estimates of ` 54,800 crore in 2019-20. Financial support of ₹ 6828 crore to the Local Bodies in 2020-21 is proposed as against ₹ 6380 crore in the Budget Estimates in 2019-20.