The number of out-of-school children in Ethiopia as a result of these emergencies has spiked from 3.1 million to 3.6 million in just the last six months, according to UNICEF. The worst drought in over four decades has made matters even worse with 24.1 million people affected, including 12.6 million children. “A new US$5 million ECW grant is also currently being finalized with strategic partners to scale up the response to the drought”, he further disclosed. The recent drought has disrupted the education of 1.6 million children, including close to 500,000 forced out of learning. Sadly, girls – especially teenage girls, children with disabilities and displaced children are among the most at risk.