Gaza Herald- The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has raised concerns about the long-term impact of prolonged school closures on children in Gaza as Israel continues its deadly assault on the enclave, noting that this is the third year in which many children have been without access to education.
Due to the brutal Israeli war on Gaza, more than 658,000 children have been prevented from completing their education since October 2023.
“The longer children in Gaza are out of school, the greater the risk of a lost generation. Every day away from the classroom takes away the future they deserve,” the UNRWA said in a statement.
UNRWA stated that approximately 88 percent of all school buildings in Gaza have been directly damaged since the war began in October 2023.
“Instead of learning, children spend their time searching for water and food,” it said in a post on X, adding, “Children urgently need a ceasefire now so they can go back to learning and reconnect with whatever is left of their childhood.”
The UNRWA called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as “the first step” to return Palestinian children to schools.
Israel has faced mounting condemnation for its genocidal war on Gaza, where it has killed over 61,500 Palestinians. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing a UN-declared famine.
