BBC launches the Arab program for children in war areas

Tareq, 10 years old, from Gaza, and Safaa, 14, from Sudan live about 2,000 km away. They have never met, but they share a tough reality: war has stolen their education.

“When I saw my school in ruins, a deep sadness overwhelmed me. I long to return to what was once,” Tareq tells the BBC from Gaza.

“In spite of everything, I have not stopped learning. I study at home, making sure not to lose a moment so that when I return to school, I will be ready,” he adds.

In Sudan, Safaa dreams of becoming a cardiac surgeon. “I still cling to hope,” he says, but has traumatic memories of the country’s civil war.

“The bodies were scattered everywhere, which moved me deeply and made me want to save lives instead of seeing them lost.”

Tareq and Safaa are among the 30 million children who, according to the United Nations Childhood Agency, UNICEF, are out of school in the Middle East and North Africa. He estimates that more than half – 16.5 million – are alone in Sudan.

In response, the World BBC service has launched an Arab edition of its award -winning Dars educational program, or lesson.

In the last year in Gaza, “more than 600,000 children, who are all school -age children in Gaza, did not get education,” says Salem Oweis, UNICEF spokesman.

“We are seeing a pattern of how conflicts, insecurity and crises are inflicting real damage to children’s education and learning,” he adds.

In Sudan, almost two years after a civil war broke out between the army and the paramilitary fast support forces, millions of children live in refugee fields where education is only available through local initiatives.

In an interview with the BBC, the Minister of Education of Sudan, Ahmed Khalifa, highlights the devastation scale.

“No state was saved,” he says. “Sudan has approximately 15,000 public schools. Between 60% and 70% of these schools have been completely damaged, losing their foundations, infrastructure and books.

“Even in safer states, schools have suffered damage due to systematic destruction by militias.”

Dars first launched in 2023 for boys in Afghanistan, including the prohibited girls of high school, and the United Nations describe it as a “learning life line” for boys who cannot attend classes.

Designed for children between the ages of 11 and 16, Dars Arabic has weekly lessons in a variety of subjects, including mathematics, technology, climate and mental health.

It also presents the stories of children, such as Tareq and Safaa, who despite the war and other obstacles, are still determined to learn.

The first episode was broadcast on Sunday, February 9, at BBC News Arabic TV. The new episodes are transmitted weekly on Sundays at 05:30 GMT (07:30 EET), with repetitions at 10:05 GMT (12:05 EET) and throughout the week.

The program is also available on digital platforms, including BBC News Arabic YouTube, as well as Lifeline Radio Services in Gaza and Syria.