Nearly 300,000 Palestine Refugee children went to schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

“It was great to see how happy children are to return to school. In Gaza, UNRWA schools -for many children- have become one of the very few places where children can be just that, children. It’s a place where they learn, thrive, play, make friends and do outdoor activities,” said Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza. 

UNRWA said that to respond to increasing needs among the refugee communities in the Gaza Strip, the Agency is in the process of appointing over 500 new teachers to support children with quality education.

To accommodate an increase of over 4,600 school children this year, UNRWA has recently opened three new schools in the south of the Gaza Strip and in Gaza City. These facilities are designed to provide a safe space for students to learn and prosper.

“The commitment of UNRWA to the advancement of education is a top priority, even amid challenging circumstances. We are keen to provide Palestine refugee children with high-quality education, equip them with the life skills they need including to be able to find jobs and join the labour market in the future,” concluded White.

UNRWA runs 288 schools in the Gaza Strip. There are 9,367 teachers working with UNRWA in the besieged enclave.