Gaza Herald – Children in Gaza continue to suffer severe violations of their fundamental rights, UNICEF reported, more than two years after the Israeli genocide began in October 2023. The agency described the situation as “brutal,” with the right to life, education, and health under constant threat.
UNICEF highlighted that 90% of schools in the enclave have been destroyed by Israeli bombing, and around 60% of school-age children currently have no access to in-person education.
The organization is working to reintegrate 336,000 children into learning through temporary learning spaces set up in tents and community centers, with a focus on safety, shelter, and access to essential services. The program costs $86 million annually.
Through consultations with more than 1,600 children, UNICEF emphasized that their main needs are clear: security, shelter, school, play, and access to hospitals. “Listening to children is essential,” the agency said. “They deserve to grow up in Gaza safely, free from threats and suffering.”
UNICEF’s efforts aim to restore some normalcy for Gaza’s children, offering daily routines and education even in temporary settings.
Each child’s education in these centers costs approximately $280 per year, making the rapid scaling of the program a financial and logistical challenge.
The destruction of schools in Gaza represents an unprecedented educational catastrophe. UNICEF’s work is designed to provide hope, continuity, and a sense of dignity to children whose lives have been upended by the genocide.
