The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has deployed seven new high-performance tents in Kasese district, western Uganda to support school reopening in flood-affected schools.
The 72 square metre newly innovated tents have been deployed at Bulembia primary to support 813 pupils and at Kinara primary school to support 401 pupils. According to a statement from Unicef, a total of 457 tents will eventually be deployed in flood-affected districts, the first time they are being rolled out in an emergency.
These tents can easily be transported and reused and include ventilation systems and elevated shade nets to keep internal temperatures cooler in hot and dry climates; electrical and solar kits for lighting and energy; and three-layered windows to help block out disease-carrying mosquitos. The straight walls allow for more space for social distancing.
“For nearly two years, children across the country have suffered prolonged pandemic-related school closures, combined with extreme weather events that have destroyed schools across the country. Their education and well-being have suffered immensely. Unicef is working with the government to help every child recover the education they have lost,” said Dr Munir Safieldin, Unicef representative in Uganda.
Uganda was one of three countries to field test the prototypes, which were used as health centres for South Sudanese refugees in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, Yumbe district. The tents keep cool in hot and dry climates. The tents were also tested in the Philippines for wet and humid weather and Afghanistan for extreme cold.
"It's fantastic to see these new and innovative tents bring rolled out to support children. The straight walls mean there’s more space in the tents for desks and social distancing, while the improved ventilation will keep these classrooms cooler so the children can focus on their lessons," says Kristoffer Gandrup-Marino, chief, product innovation, Unicef supply division.
In the same measure, additional ordinary tents have been installed in districts including Ntoroko, Sheema and Buliisa - with Unicef also providing 540 desks and 30 blackboards to schools affected by flood damage.
Children in Uganda endured the longest school closures globally, missing at least 83 weeks of physical learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
