War Strains Education and Life in Gaza

The new school year began in Palestinian territories with schools in Gaza shut due to ongoing war. Israel issued evacuation orders, exacerbating the crisis. Many children miss out on education amid the violence, while UNRWA shelters offer temporary solace for displaced families. Health services face serious challenges.

The new school year in the Palestinian territories started on Monday, with all schools in Gaza remaining shut after 11 months of continuous conflict and no signs of a ceasefire. Israel has issued new evacuation orders to residents in northern Gaza, responding to rockets fired into its territory.

Umm Zaki's 15-year-old son, Moataz, should have begun tenth grade. Instead, he fetched water from over a kilometer away. "Today, instead of celebrating, we just hope this war ends before we lose any more lives," his mother told Reuters from a tent in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah.

The Palestinian Education Ministry stated that 90% of Gaza's schools are either destroyed or damaged. UNRWA, managing nearly half of Gaza’s schools, has converted many into emergency shelters housing thousands of displaced families. In Gaza, approximately 625,000 registered students and 58,000 first graders are missing out on education.

Juliette Touma, UNRWA's Director of Communications, warned of the long-term impact on children, including the risk of becoming a lost generation susceptible to exploitation. Last month, UNRWA initiated a back-to-learning program in 45 shelters with activities to aid children's mental health.

Most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced multiple times. Israel’s latest evacuation order follows rocket fire into southern Israel. “The specified area is considered a dangerous combat zone,” an Israeli military spokesperson stated.

The United Nations urged vaccinations for children under 10 amidst polio concerns, while Israeli airstrikes have resulted in numerous casualties. Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue resistance efforts. Hostilities began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, leading to a retaliatory assault from Israel that has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.

(With inputs from agencies.)