UN report reveals extensive damage to Gaza’s education system, 342 schools impacted

In a recent report by the United Nations (UN), it has been revealed that 342 schools in the Gaza Strip have incurred substantial damage, significantly impacting the education of 400,700 students. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has noted that these students have been unable to attend school since October 7.

The most severely affected regions, namely Gaza and Khan Younis governorates, along with northern Gaza, collectively represent 74 percent of the overall damage, underscoring the extensive ramifications on the educational infrastructure.

The gravity of the situation is further underscored by the fact that approximately 90 percent of the school buildings are currently being utilized as shelters by internally displaced persons (IDPs). This unsettling development, as highlighted in the UN agency’s statement, points to the multifaceted challenges faced by the affected population, where educational facilities are not only rendered inoperable but are also repurposed to meet urgent humanitarian needs.

The overarching impact on the region’s education system demands coordinated efforts and international attention to address both the immediate shelter needs and the restoration of educational facilities for the affected students.