Iran war economic fallout: Families in Cambodia forced to choose between school and survival

Reports indicate that the war involving Iran has disrupted global energy markets, causing fuel price spikes that severely threaten children's access to education in developing nations, particularly across Southeast Asia and Africa. In Cambodia, families living on Tonle Sap Lake, who rely on gas-powered boats for transport, are being forced to choose between basic survival and sending their children to school due to soaring fuel costs. According to a UNICEF report, the continuation of this conflict could push up to 23.4 million more children into poverty by the end of the year, with 80% of those affected located in Africa and Asia. Experts from international organizations, including the Education Above All Foundation, warn that the economic pressures of the war are forcing families into impossible choices, leading to increased dropout rates, particularly among girls. In Vietnam, there are reports of children returning to the workforce to compensate for family income deficits. Beyond transportation costs, rising prices for food and fertilizers are also jeopardizing the food security of students who rely on school meal programs.