Rebuilding Education Amid GazaS Persistent Turmoil
As the eruption of conflict in October 2023,nearly 300,000 students registered with UNRWA have been deprived of access to formal education due to widespread devastation and ongoing instability throughout Gaza.
Challenges in Reestablishing Educational Facilities
Following two years marked by intense Israeli military campaigns that devastated homes, hospitals, and schools across the region, Gaza’s educational system is slowly attempting a comeback. Despite continuous air raids and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries,initiatives are underway to reopen classrooms and restore learning environments.
The fragile ceasefire brokered through U.S. mediation has created a narrow opportunity for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) to restart schooling activities. Yet nearly 97% of their school buildings have been either damaged or wholly destroyed during the hostilities.
Schools Serving as Emergency shelters
A significant number of schools that once functioned solely as educational centers now also provide refuge for hundreds of displaced families. In Deir el-Balah city, numerous families share cramped classroom spaces with children determined to resume their studies despite arduous conditions.
Inam al-Maghari, a young learner who recently returned after missing two years due to war disruptions, expressed her struggles: “I missed my second and third grades because we couldn’t attend school for so long. Now I’m in fourth grade but feel like I’ve forgotten everything.” She added emotionally that “today we brought mattresses rather of desks just so we could sit down and study.”
The Community’s Role in Sustaining Education Efforts
“Education remains vital,” says Um Mahmoud,a displaced mother who regularly vacates her family’s temporary classroom space multiple times each week so children can continue attending lessons without interruption. Her family prioritizes learning despite persistent hardships and hopes conditions will soon improve enough for better-quality education delivery.
UNRWA’s Expanding Response Through Temporary Learning Spaces
The agency is intensifying its efforts by establishing temporary safe learning environments designed for over 62,000 students across Gaza.These programs operate within 67 schools currently functioning as shelters while simultaneously supporting online platforms reaching approximately 300,000 learners throughout the territory.
Mental Health Consequences on children Living Amid Conflict
the psychological impact on youth enduring this prolonged crisis is severe. Mental health professionals estimate that more than 80% of children display symptoms indicative of deep trauma caused by constant exposure to violence and loss.
“Over one million children face daily life under extreme threat here-leaving lasting wounds filled with fear and sorrow,” says UNICEF’s regional director overseeing Middle East operations.
an estimated 64,000 minors have been killed or injured since hostilities intensified-underscoring an urgent need not only for physical rebuilding but also comprehensive psychosocial support services tailored specifically toward helping young people recover within Gaza’s fragile habitat.
