Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has reported that 625,000 children, including 300,000 students enrolled in UNRWA schools, have lost a full year of education due to the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Lazzarini highlighted the severe impact of the conflict on educational infrastructure, stating that "four in five school buildings in Gaza have been directly hit or damaged." He emphasized the urgent need for these buildings to be rebuilt or repaired to restore their use as schools.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education reported staggering casualties among students, with 9,936 killed and 15,897 injured since the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip began on October 7, 2023.

The destruction and loss of life have significantly disrupted education in Gaza, raising concerns about the long-term effects on the region's children and their future prospects. UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations are calling for immediate international support to address the educational and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. (ILKHA)