UNRWA working to get ‘thousands of children back to learning’ in Gaza
As the new academic year starts, UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, says it working to get thousands of children back to learning despite the closure of its 200 schools across Gaza. Since the start of the war, many schools have been used as shelters by displaced Palestinians.
“Now, thousands are able to come for an hour each day to join some fun activities, see their friends and receive psychosocial support to help them cope with their ongoing trauma,” said UNRWA spokeswoman Louise Wateridge.
More than 600,000 children have been out of school since the war began last October.
UNRWA has nearly 200 schools in #Gaza. They have all been closed since October, many serving as shelters throughout the war.
In some of these schools, @UNRWA teams are getting thousands of children back to learning through fun activities and psychosocial support. #UNRWAworks pic.twitter.com/naBH7FNCku
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) September 7, 2024
‘Education cannot be taken away’: UNRWA
The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees has said Palestinian children must be protected, and so should their right to education.
The statement comes a day before the school year begins in Palestine, which UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini says is starting to be overshadowed by nearly 10 days of large-scale Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank.
Lazzarini posted on X, “6,000 girls and boys of school age have been directly affected between Jenin, Tulkarem, Nur Shams, and Fara’a refugee camps.”
“The physical and psychological damage caused by the latest Israeli military operation and activities of Palestinian armed groups will take a long time to overcome.”
Back to learning tomorrow for children in UNRWA schools in the #WestBank.
Education cannot be taken away.
Children and their learning must be protected, always. https://t.co/j5ZOWHtADN
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) September 8, 2024
Gaza’s polio vaccination campaign extended amid attacks
The Palestinian Health Ministry has extended the polio vaccination drive in southern Gaza by a day to help more people access vaccination centres amid the ongoing Israeli attacks.
Last month, Gaza reported its first polio case in 25 years, with the virus spreading due to the widespread destruction of hygiene and sanitation facilities caused by the relentless bombings.
The campaign aims to vaccinate a total of 640,000 children.
At least 69 percent of children in Gaza have received first dose of polio vaccine
The Palestinian Health Ministry has announced that 69 percent of children in Gaza have received their first dose of the polio vaccine since the start of the campaign seven days ago, the news agency Wafa reported.
The polio vaccination campaign is ongoing in Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis, as well as surrounding areas in southern Gaza.
As of Saturday evening, 441,647 children had been administered the vaccine, of whom 49 percent were girls.
The ministry added that the vaccination campaign will continue in northern Gaza once it is completed in southern Gaza.
