UNRWA Reopens Schools Gradually Following Conflict
More than 25,000 students have returned to temporary learning spaces set up by the UNRWA, according to Philippe Lazzarini, the agency’s director. This comes after two years of conflict between Hamas and the Israeli army, sparked by a Palestinian Islamist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Resumption of Classes in Gaza
Despite the devastating impact of the war on Gaza, students at Al Hasaina School in Nuseirat have resumed classes. AFPTV captured images of around 50 girls and boys learning on the floor, without desks or chairs, in makeshift classrooms.
School’s Transformation During Conflict
During the war, Al Hasaina School, along with other UNRWA facilities, served as a shelter for numerous families. Some displaced individuals still reside in the school currently.
Students’ Experiences
Warda Radun, an 11-year-old student, expressed her eagerness to return to school. “I’m in sixth grade, but I’ve lost two years of education due to displacement and the war,” she told AFP.
“We’re restarting classes gradually, waiting for the school to be empty of displaced people so we can learn as we used to,” she added.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Philippe Lazzarini? Philippe Lazzarini is the Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
- What is the UNRWA? The UNRWA is a United Nations agency founded in 1949 to help Palestinian refugees.
- Why are schools reopening now? Schools are reopening following a fragile ceasefire that began on October 10, 2023, after two years of conflict between Hamas and the Israeli army.
- How has the war affected education in Gaza? The war has caused a two-year disruption in education for many students, with some losing two years of schooling due to displacement.
- What are temporary learning spaces? Temporary learning spaces are classrooms set up by the UNRWA to accommodate students while traditional schools recover from the impacts of the war.
