Peshawar school tragedy: UNICEF reports at least 28 children killed

UNICEF reported a devastating incident at a private school in Dir Colony, Peshawar, Pakistan, on 15 October. According to reports received by the agency, at least 28 children and one teacher died when a roof collapsed, while more than 50 children were injured. Most of the children who died were under 14. ‘At least’ matters: early casualty figures can change.

The agency offered condolences and said it was ready to support the government, including psychological help for children and families. UNICEF called for regular safety inspections of both public and private school buildings. Its statement does not establish the cause of the collapse; attributing it to a specific construction defect would be premature.

The urgent question for families and school authorities is how to assess building safety before another disaster. Pakistan’s competent investigators must determine what failed in this case. Their findings should be kept distinct from the first reports.

Source: https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/press-releases/unicef-statement-school-roof-collapse-peshawar-pakistan%E2%80%AF