New Delhi, Mar 4: The United Nations Security Council turned its focus to a stark statistic: 473 million children, one in five worldwide, are either living in or fleeing conflict zones, with millions at risk of losing access to education as wars shutter schools and displace families.

Meeting under the March presidency of the United States, the Council heard calls for the rapid expansion of digital education, backed by stronger safeguards, to ensure that learning continues even when classrooms fall silent. The session, chaired by US First Lady Melania Trump, the first time a presidential spouse has presided over a Council meeting, centred on how technology can bridge widening educational gaps in conflict settings.

Briefing ambassadors, Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said recent events highlights how children remain among the worst affected by armed violence. Schools in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have temporarily closed and shifted to remote learning amid rising regional tensions.

She also referred to reports from Iran alleging that dozens of children may have been killed when a strike hit an elementary school in Minab. “United States authorities have announced that they are looking into these reports,” she said.

Globally, 234 million children in conflict situations require educational support, DiCarlo noted, with 85 million entirely out of school. In 2024 alone, the UN verified 2,374 attacks on schools and hospitals, a figure she said likely understates the true toll.

“Digital learning can offer access to education when schools are closed or inaccessible, or when students are fleeing violence,” she told the Council, pointing to initiatives such as the Instant Network Schools programme operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, which provides refugees and teachers with internet-enabled educational resources.

At the same time, she warned of mounting online threats. Children in war zones face heightened risks of exploitation, trafficking, radicalization, and recruitment by armed groups through digital platforms. Cyberbullying and misinformation further compound their vulnerability. Strengthening legal frameworks and funding education in emergencies are critical, she stressed, adding: “The most effective way to protect children from conflict is to prevent and end wars.”

Speaking in her national capacity, Melania. Trump declared: “The United States stands with all of the children throughout the world.” She argued that education reflects a nation’s core values and that, in an era of unprecedented connectivity, technology can help meet basic human needs.

Nearly 6 billion people, around 70 per cent of the global population, now have access to mobile devices and the internet, she said. Artificial intelligence, once confined to research institutions, is expanding access to knowledge and enabling cross-cultural understanding. “Today, almost anyone anywhere can access a vast universe of data in the palm of their hand,” she said, urging efforts to connect even the most remote communities to AI-driven learning tools.

Her remarks echoed the Council’s own framework under resolution 2601 (2021), which calls on Member States to promote remote and digital learning solutions and ensure educational continuity for refugee and displaced children.

Delegates from countries scarred by conflict shared hard-earned lessons. Liberia’s representative recalled his country’s 14-year civil war, warning that when education collapses, conflict “does not end, it simply mutates”. Community radio once delivered lessons nationwide when physical classrooms were unsafe, demonstrating the value of adaptable technology.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo described ongoing challenges in South Kivu province, where violence and armed group occupation have forced thousands of schools to close. Nonetheless, Kinshasa has adopted a 2025 strategy to build a resilient, inclusive system capable of ensuring learning continuity before, during and after crises.

From the Middle East, Bahrain’s delegate said regional instability has disrupted schooling, citing UNICEF figures that 30 million children in the Middle East and North Africa are out of school or outside formal education. Pakistan cautioned that “technology is not a substitute for peace,” while Somalia drew attention to Gaza, where more than 97 per cent of schools have reportedly been damaged or destroyed.

France highlighted the plight of Ukrainian children whose classes are frequently interrupted by air-raid sirens, while warning that social media is being used in several conflicts to spread propaganda and facilitate recruitment of minors.

Safeguards and the digital divide

Many delegations stressed that digital education must be accompanied by comprehensive safeguards. Colombia warned that the online environment has become “a new space of vulnerability”, where criminal networks exploit and manipulate minors. Greece called for national strategies that harness technology to build “bridges to safe education, dignity and hope”.

The Russian Federation pointed to the proliferation of online material depicting sexual violence against children, citing the new UN Convention against Cybercrime as a tool to combat such abuses. Denmark emphasized the persistent digital divide, noting that children in the poorest and most conflict-affected regions are least likely to have reliable internet access.

China underscored the transformative potential of remote teaching, satellite networks and AI, while insisting that technological deployment must respect national sovereignty and cultural traditions.

Several speakers cautioned against overreliance on artificial intelligence. Panama warned that technology must supplement, not replace, in-person education. Latvia agreed: “Digital tools must support teachers, not sideline them.”

As debates unfolded, one theme recurred: education is both a casualty of war and a pathway out of it. Or, as Liberia’s delegate put it, the journey “from ceasefire to resilience runs through the classroom.”

New Delhi, Mar 04: India expressed its deep concern at the commencement of the conflict in Iran and the Gulf region on 28 February 2026, and urged all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and prioritize the safety of civilians.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said that it is unfortunate that in the holy month of Ramadhan, the situation in the region has deteriorated significantly and continuously.

In recent days, we have not only witnessed an intensification of the conflict but also its spread to other nations. The destruction and deaths have mounted, even as normal life and economic activities come to a halt. As a proximate neighbour with critical stakes in the security and stability of the region, these developments evoke great anxiety, the MEA in a statement said.

It said there are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf region. Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority. India cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them. Our trade and energy supply chains also traverse this geography. Any major disruption has serious consequences for the Indian economy. As a country whose nationals are prominent in the global workforce, India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping. Already, some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing as a result of such attacks in the last few days.

In this background, India strongly reiterates its call for dialogue and diplomacy. We raise our voice clearly in favour of an early end to the conflict. Already, many lives have been regrettably lost and we express our grief in that regard, statement said.

It also said that Indian Embassies and Consulates in the affected countries remain in close touch with Indian nationals and community organizations, issuing regular advisories as appropriate. They have also extended all possible help to those stranded by the conflict. The Embassies and Consulates will continue to be proactive in addressing various consular aspects of this conflict.

We are in touch with the governments of this region as well as other key partners. Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister have held discussions with their counterparts. The government will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and take relevant decisions in the national interest, the statement held.

Mumbai, Mar 04: IndiGo on Wednesday said it cancelled over 500 flights to the Middle East and select international destinations from February 28 to March 3 due to the evolving airspace restrictions over Iran and other Gulf countries.

In a regulatory filing, the airline said that it will continue to closely monitor the revenue environment arising from this situation.

With airspace curbs in the Middle East due to the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, flight services have been significantly impacted since February 28.

“More than 500 flights to the Middle East and select international destinations have been cancelled between February 28 and March 3,” IndiGo said.

It said in the filing, “Our operational teams are continuously assessing the evolving regional developments, recalibrating flight schedules, and planning repatriation operations in coordination with relevant authorities in India and the respective international jurisdictions, with the objective of minimising disruption to passengers.”

The Civil Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday that 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers had been cancelled (till March 3) due to the ongoing situation.

As per the Ministry website, the number of departed international flights from India was 356, while 338 international flights landed at various international airports in the country on March 3.

Srinagar, Mar 04: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Wednesday raised serious concerns with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar regarding the safety of Indian students stranded in different parts of Iran amid the ongoing airstrikes and escalating hostilities.

In a statement, JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami conveyed to the External Affairs Minister that the Association has been receiving countless phone calls and messages from distressed parents of Kashmiri students whose wards are currently stranded in cities including Qom, Urmia, Arak and other regions. The students are extremely panicked, frightened, and anxious due to the continuous airstrikes and missile attacks being reported from several parts of the country.

“Many students are residing in close proximity to sensitive locations and have expressed deep fear for their safety. The intensity of the explosions reportedly shook the buildings, leaving many students frightened, anxious, and deeply distressed. The constant sound of explosions and fighter jets has created an atmosphere of uncertainty and psychological distress among them,” Khuehami said. Their families back home are equally worried and are desperately seeking reassurance regarding the well-being of their children.

The Association has requested the External Affairs Minister to kindly intervene and facilitate the immediate evacuation of Indian students from Iran or relocate them to safer places until the situation stabilizes. Such a step, the Association said, would greatly ease the anxiety of hundreds of families who are waiting for their children to be brought to safety.

The Association also acknowledged and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy of India in Tehran for their prompt efforts in relocating several students from the worst-affected areas of Tehran to the comparatively safer city of Qom through special buses arranged for their transportation. The timely intervention brought immense relief to many worried families.

However, the Association noted with concern that soon after reaching Qom, some students reported hearing fresh explosions and airstrikes in nearby areas, which again triggered panic among them and further heightened their sense of insecurity.

Given the rapidly evolving security situation, the Association has urged the Government of India to closely monitor the ground situation and prepare contingency plans for the safe evacuation of Indian students at the earliest possible time, as the situation across several parts of Iran continues to deteriorate amid escalating hostilities.

Khuehami emphasized that swift and proactive action would not only ensure the safety of the students but also provide much-needed reassurance to their anxious families who are closely following developments from afar.

“The Association remains hopeful that the Ministry of External Affairs will continue to extend all possible support and take necessary steps to safeguard the lives and well-being of our students during this extremely difficult and uncertain situation,” he added.