UNRWA: 300,000 students in Gaza return to school amid aid blockade

The media advisor for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Adnan Abu Hasna, announced on Saturday the resumption of the educational process for about 300,000 Palestinian students in the Gaza Strip after two years of Israeli genocide.

This was stated in a televised statement published by UNRWA on its page on the American platform 'X'. Abu Hasna said that the agency 'has put plans in place to resume education after two years of interruption', noting that 'ten thousand students will receive their education in some of the shelters, while the rest of the students will study through virtual education.'

He explained that 'about 8,000 teachers will participate in this educational process.' Abu Hasna emphasized that 'the continued disruption of education is no longer possible after years of war and the repercussions of COVID-19, which have made thousands of children in Gaza unable to read and write.'

The educational process in the Gaza Strip has been halted since October 8, 2023, following the start of the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip and the conversion of the majority of UNRWA and government schools into shelters, in addition to those that were completely or partially destroyed.

According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Education up to September 16, Israel has destroyed 172 government schools in Gaza, bombed and damaged 118 other government schools, in addition to bombing and damaging more than 100 schools belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

According to the same data, Israel has killed 17,711 students in the genocide war in the Gaza Strip and injured 25,897 others, in addition to killing 763 school staff and injuring 3,189 others.

On the other hand, Abu Hasna said that Israel 'does not allow the entry of the massive aid that the agency has into the Gaza Strip', noting that UNRWA 'is ready to distribute food supplies and operate 22 central clinics in the sector.'

He condemned Israel's attempts to obstruct this relief effort, saying: 'Many essential supplies such as shelter materials, blankets, winter clothes, and medicines are not allowed to enter Gaza from the Israeli side, which exacerbates the humanitarian situation.'

Abu Hasna pointed out that '95 percent of the population of the sector relies on humanitarian aid due to the loss of their income sources.' He warned that 'the situation is deteriorating dangerously, and hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living in the open after returning to the city of Gaza following the entry of the ceasefire agreement into effect (on October 10 of this month).'

Abu Hasna confirmed that 'the entry of aid has become an urgent necessity before winter.' With American support, Israel began a genocide in Gaza on October 8, 2023, which lasted for two years, resulting in 67,967 deaths, and 170,179 injuries, most of whom are children and women, and a famine that claimed the lives of 463 Palestinians, including 157 children.