70% of UNRWA schools in Gaza have been destroyed
The Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) has announced that about 70% of the agency's schools in the Gaza Strip, which were used as shelters, have been destroyed.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has announced that approximately 70% of its schools in the Gaza Strip, which were being used as shelters, have been destroyed amidst the ongoing conflict.
UNRWA, one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations operating in Gaza, plays a crucial role in providing food distribution, education, and medical services to Palestinian refugees. During the current conflict, the agency has been relying on 13,000 workers to deliver these essential services, with 3,000 staff dedicated specifically to education and healthcare.
Extensive Use of Schools as Shelters
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), more than 95% of UNRWA's schools have been repurposed as shelters for Palestinian refugees fleeing the violence. The ongoing war, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in severe damage to these facilities. UNRWA reports that 539 Palestinian refugees have been killed due to bombings targeting schools and other associated centers.
Inas Hamdan, director of the information office for UNRWA in Gaza, highlighted the extensive damage, noting that 190 UNRWA facilities have been destroyed since the conflict began
