A recent escalation of conflict along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border has severely disrupted education in border regions, with schools damaged, villages deserted, and thousands of children left without access to formal learning, according to humanitarian agencies and local accounts.

In the border village of Barikot, located in Afghanistan’s northeastern Kunar province, classrooms lie in ruins after weeks of fighting between Afghan and Pakistani forces. The school complex, which once served students from primary to secondary levels, has suffered extensive damage, with residents attributing the destruction to cross-border shelling. The area, home to around 8,000 people, was largely abandoned as residents fled the violence following the outbreak of hostilities in late February.

Humanitarian data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that approximately 12,000 students across the affected region have been displaced or impacted by the conflict. The agency has identified at least 22 schools in need of urgent reconstruction in Kunar province alone, highlighting the scale of educational disruption in the border belt.

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Local residents and displaced families describe severe hardship in makeshift settlements, where thousands have taken refuge along riverbanks and temporary camps. Many families are living in tents constructed from basic materials, facing shortages of clean water, sanitation facilities, and healthcare access. Aid organisations have described the overall humanitarian situation as “dire,” with urgent needs including shelter, water, and essential services.

In Barikot, former students and residents recount the emotional toll of losing access to education and community infrastructure. A shopkeeper who studied at the damaged school described deep sorrow at seeing his former classroom destroyed. Similarly, displaced educators and parents have expressed concern that children are now spending their days without structured learning, further compounding the long-term impact of the conflict.

While local authorities say efforts are underway to identify solutions, including relocating displaced families to more organised camps, the immediate situation remains challenging. Schools in nearby villages are already overcrowded, limiting options for resuming education. Humanitarian workers warn that without swift intervention, thousands of children risk prolonged educational disruption amid continuing instability in the border region.

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