According to a United Nations report, intensive bombings by Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip have significantly damaged the education sector, directly striking 212 schools of all types. The Education Cluster in the Occupied Palestinian Territory conducted an analysis that highlighted the dire situation, with satellite images showing at least 53 schools “completely destroyed” since the outbreak of the war on October 7. The report further confirmed that at least 167 other schools likely suffered severe damage, indicating that over 80% of all schools in the Gaza Strip have been damaged in some form.
The report indicated that the North Gaza Governorate was the most affected, with approximately 86.2% of school buildings directly hit or damaged, followed by the Gaza and Khan Younis Governorates. Additionally, at least 107 of UNRWA’s schools, equating to 57% of the agency’s schools, fall into this category, along with 73% of government schools and 55.8% of private schools in the sector.
The report also highlighted that 320 school buildings in Gaza were used as shelters by displaced individuals fleeing their homes, with 188 of these shelters directly hit or damaged.
The scale of the conflict’s impact was underscored in the report, noting that over 625,000 students and 22,000 teachers were attending 563 school buildings before the war.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached critical levels, deeply impacted by continuous conflict and blockade. According to reports from various UN agencies and human rights experts, the region is facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, with devastating impacts on the civilian population.
Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals overflowing and a significant number of health facilities directly damaged by airstrikes. The World Health Organization has documented numerous attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel, leading to deaths among health workers and severely hindering medical services. The sector was already under strain due to the prolonged blockade, contributing to a drastic shortage of hospital beds and medical supplies.
Nearly half a million people in Gaza have been unable to access food rations due to the closure of food distribution centers. With only one of the five mills functioning, there’s an imminent risk of wheat flour depletion. Livestock and agriculture have been directly affected, and with the closure of Gaza’s primary commercial crossing, the passage of animal feed has halted. The situation has forced residents to prioritize children for the scarce food and clean water available, with many adults skipping meals to ensure that children can eat.
