According to recent UNICEF reports. high levels of street violence and lawlessness are keeping school attendance levels. particularly of girls. to low levels. Often because families can no longer afford to keep their children in school. girls are pulled out to assist their families with household work and to look after younger siblings while their brothers finish school. The large refugee crisis is another Impediment to education. UNHCR estimates that 500.000 schoolage Iraqi children now live in neighboring countries. This could put a severe strain on neigh53. Pt. 19 26675 boring countries schools and their school systems. that is. if children are even allowed to attend school while living as a refugee. Additionally. refugee families often do not have money for tuition. and refugee children may not speak the local language. This summer. the United Nations launched a global appeal for $129 million to get more Iraqi refugee children into schools. This is just a BandAid. Mr.