As students in many parts of the world return to school after the summer break, concerns are mounting over the education crisis facing Palestinian children in Gaza. The head of UNRWA, the main United Nations agency in the region, has highlighted the dire situation faced by over 600,000 children in Gaza.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed deep concern over the impact of the recent conflict on the education of children in Gaza. He noted that while students in other parts of the region are returning to school, those in Gaza are being deprived of their right to education.
Before the outbreak of the conflict, approximately 300,000 children in Gaza were receiving education in UNRWA facilities. However, the recent military campaign by Israel has resulted in the destruction or damage of more than 70% of UNRWA's school buildings.
Lazzarini emphasized that the remaining schools have been transformed into overcrowded shelters for hundreds of thousands of displaced families. The living conditions in these makeshift shelters are dire, with children facing trauma and uncertainty about their future.
The UNRWA head warned of the long-term consequences of keeping children out of school, stating that prolonged absence from education could lead to a lost generation. He highlighted the risk of increased resentment and extremism among the youth if urgent action is not taken to address the education crisis in Gaza.
The international community is being called upon to support efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate UNRWA schools in Gaza to ensure that Palestinian children have access to quality education and a safe learning environment.
