Holy Land: 240,000 children return to school in Gaza
Around 240,000 children have returned to United Nations-run classrooms in Gaza where many of their schools have been damaged and destroyed.
"After the traumatic 50 days of brutal conflict, death, destruction and massive displacement, we are determined to give the children a sense of renewed hope and better prospects by opening the schools so soon again" the Commissioner-General of UNRWA said in a statement.
More than 90 schools in Gaza were used as shelters for the many people displaced by the bombing during the attacks against the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
UNRWA staff has been working day and night to prepare for the students’ return to school. This has been particularly challenging because, until a few days ago, 29 UNRWA school buildings was still serving as shelters. Top priority now is to provide safety and normality for children within a school. 7,800 teachers have been given some training in new methods of teaching children who have suffered bereavement and trauma.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that out of the 2,104 Palestinians killed in the bombardment, 495 were children. Many more were injured, so there will be many familiar faces missing from classes.
Source: UNRWA/Fides