NEW YORK: The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini said that more than 70% of the agency’s schools in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, and the majority of them have become shelters crowded with hundreds of thousands of displaced families and cannot be used for education.

Lazzarini added in a post on X that “more than 600,000 children there are deeply traumatized, living in the rubble. They continue to be deprived of learning + schooling. Half of them used to be in UNRWA schools. The longer children stay out of school, the higher the risk of a lost generation, fueling resentment and extremism.”

“In Gaza, more than 70% of our schools are destroyed or damaged. The vast majority of our schools are now overcrowded shelters with hundreds of thousands of displaced families. They cannot be used for learning,” he added.

“With no ceasefire, children are likely to fall prey to exploitation including child labour and recruitment into a
rmed groups. We have seen this way too often in conflicts around the world, let’s not repeat it in Gaza. A ceasefire is a win for all: it will allow respite for civilians, the release of the hostages + a flow of much needed basic supplies including for learning,” he concluded.

Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA