90% of Gaza Strip schools destroyed since war began: UNICEF
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- 90% of schools in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, leaving 638,000 children without classrooms.
- Unexploded ordnance and lack of educational supplies block any return to schooling, UNICEF says.
UNICEF in Palestine said that 90% of schools in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed by the war, warning of long-term consequences for an entire generation of children.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, the spokesperson said 638,000 children in the Gaza Strip have lost access to education as a direct result of the 'Israeli' war on Gaza.
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“The presence of unexploded ordnance represents a major threat to the resumption of schooling in Gaza,” the spokesperson said.
No school supplies since October 2023
UNICEF said the most serious challenge since the start of the war in October 2023 has been the complete halt of educational materials entering the Gaza Strip.
The agency warned that even if schools were repaired, the absence of basic supplies would make reopening classrooms nearly impossible.
Heavy toll on students, teachers
Nearly 1,000 educational staff and 20,000 students have been killed during the war.
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Humanitarian agencies say the scale of destruction to the education system reflects broader damage to civilian infrastructure caused by ‘Israel’s aggression on the Gaza Strip.
UNICEF reiterated calls for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, stressing that protecting education is essential to preventing irreversible harm to Palestinian children and safeguarding their future.
