UNRWA Launches 130 Temporary Schools for Gaza's Children

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has launched 130 temporary educational centers, providing in-person learning for nearly 47,000 Palestinian children who have been deprived of education due to Israel's ongoing war on Gaza.

The initiative also includes a distance learning program that has enrolled over 270,000 children, offering essential lessons in Arabic, English, mathematics, and science.

UNRWA aims to help these children heal from severe trauma while restoring a sense of normalcy through education.

UN officials stressed that bringing Gaza's youth back to learning is a matter of urgency to avoid further cycles of violence and extremism.

However, they warned that the current efforts are only the beginning, as much more support and resources are needed to rebuild Gaza's shattered education system.

The situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with over 660,000 children currently out of school due to the destruction caused by Israeli attacks.

Since October 2023, more than 12,800 students and 800 teachers have been killed, while 85% of educational facilities have been rendered inoperable, resulting in over $2 billion in damage.

UNRWA has so far established 397 temporary learning centers for over 50,000 students and provided psychosocial support for more than half a million children.

Despite these efforts, the agency emphasizes that international support, particularly from countries in the region, is crucial to prevent an entire generation from being left without access to education.

With the recent ceasefire allowing some children to return to school for the first time in two years, UNRWA hopes this initiative will serve as a foundation for rebuilding Gaza's education sector and securing a brighter future for Palestinian children.