Wednesday was the first day of school for tens of thousands of Palestinian children, who returned to their UNRWA schools across Palestine.

The kids started the new academic year on the same day as their peers in public schools run by the Palestinian Ministry of Education in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem.

The fate of UNRWA school children in Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon was uncertain after the US cut funds from the UN organization - $550 million to be specific.

UNRWA Spokesperson Sami Mshasha told Roya that the academic year has begun with a deficit in the organization’s budget by over $300 million, which are necessary for funding schools, clinics and other projects.

UNRWA warned that the lack in funds might force them to close the schools in a month’s time, if more funding is not found. Mshasha stressed that UNRWA is seeking help from Europe and Asia to ensure that students can continue with their studies.

Meanwhile, UNRWA Chief Spokesman Chris Gunness told AFP that “at the moment, we do not have enough money to keep the schools open after the end of September.”
“At the end of September, UNRWA will be running on empty for all its services, including schools and medical facilities.”
Around 526,000 students attend 711 UNRWA schools in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.