Hollywood star Angelina Jolie today threw her weight behind a Government drive to educate refugee children.
Britain will pledge £5.3million to help kids and teachers in 10 of the poorest countries hosting refugees, including Chad, South Sudan and the Yemen.
Movie A-lister Angelina will join Baroness Liz Sugg, the UK’s special envoy for girls’ education, in pressing other countries to chip in.
Angelina, an ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR, said: “For millions of children and youth, schools are a lifeline of opportunity as well as a shield.
“Classrooms offer protection — or at least a reprieve — from violence, exploitation and other difficult circumstances.
“Without urgent practical assistance, some of the children left without schooling worldwide due to the coronavirus may never set foot in a classroom again.
“We must find ways to try to ensure access to continuity of education for young people across the world.
“Ensuring education for refugee children is something we can make happen, if we all come together.”
Baroness Sugg said: “Education must be prioritised in the global recovery from coronavirus.
“This epidemic is not just a health crisis, it is an education crisis, especially for refugee children.
“Without school and an education they will be unable to rebuild their lives and achieve their full potential.
“Supporting every child’s right to 12 years of quality education is one of the best investments the UK can make to end the cycle of displacement, poverty and conflict, as we recover from coronavirus.
“We urge our partners to match our ambition.”