70% of UNRWA Gaza schools destroyed, majority housing displaced people

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Sep 2024 16:02
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UNRWA's commissioner general says "the longer children stay out of school, the higher the risk of a lost generation."

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Palestinian children navigate heavy damage to a UNRWA school sheltering displaced persons the day after a nearby house was targeted by Israeli bombardment in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP)

Over 70% of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees' schools in Gaza have been either destroyed or severely damaged, its commissioner general confirmed, pointing out that most of these schools have now become overcrowded shelters due to the fact that they house hundreds of thousands of displaced families, rendering them unusable for educational purposes.

"Boys and girls around the region are going back to UNRWA schools except in Gaza," Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X.

He highlighted that "more than 600,000 children there are deeply traumatized, living in the rubble. They continue to be deprived of learning + schooling. Half of them used to be in UNRWA schools."

Boys and girls around the region are going back to @UNRWA schools except in #Gaza.
More than 600,000 children there are deeply traumatized, living in the rubble. They continue to be deprived of learning + schooling. Half of them used to be in UNRWA schools.

The longer children… pic.twitter.com/Sa9F1u92lG
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) September 2, 2024

Lazzarini added that "the longer children stay out of school, the higher the risk of a lost generation, fueling resentment & extremism."

In August, the UNRWA commissioner-general underlined that "Gaza is no place for children anymore. They are the first casualty of this merciless war."

During their ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation forces have bombed numerous schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees sheltering displaced Palestinians and committed several massacres there using US-made bombs.

The United Nations says "Israel" has struck at least 23 schools sheltering displaced people in Gaza since July 4.

While the Israeli occupation military claims that it targets Palestinian fighters allegedly operating from these schools, Palestinian Resistance factions assert that they strictly adhere to a policy of avoiding civilian areas to prevent them from becoming targets of Israeli aggression.