UNICEF: Brutal Gaza war erased years of progress on education, in an “assault on the future itself”
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder warned that nearly two and a half years of Israeli attacks on the education sector in Gaza have put an entire generation at risk.
Elder revealed that UNICEF is expanding its education efforts in Gaza as part of one of the largest emergency education operations globally.
He explained that around 60% of school-aged children in Gaza are currently not receiving in-person education, noting that 90% of schools have either been severely damaged or destroyed.
He emphasized that before the current war, Palestinians in Gaza had some of the highest literacy rates globally, and education was a source of pride, resilience, and progress across generations.
Speaking at the UN agencies’ semi-weekly press conference in Geneva, Elder said this legacy is now under severe threat, with schools, universities, and libraries destroyed, wiping out years of progress. He stressed that the damage isn’t just physical, it’s a direct assault on the future of children.
A recent UN assessment based on satellite imagery from July showed that at least 97% of schools have sustained varying degrees of damage.
Elder announced an expansion of UNICEF’s “Back to Learning” program, aiming to reach 336,000 children in Gaza.
He stressed the urgent need to get children back to school, often in tents within communities or local centers, since waiting for the reconstruction of permanent school buildings isn’t feasible.
“Learning saves lives,” Elder said, adding that UNICEF’s learning spaces offer safety in often dangerous environments.
These centers also provide vital information, a daily routine for children, and access to health, nutrition, and protection services. They are equipped with proper sanitation and handwashing facilities.
Most of the centers supported by UNICEF will be in central and southern Gaza due to the extensive destruction in the north.
Elder said demand for these learning centers is far beyond current capacity. During a recent visit to Gaza, he saw dozens of parents waiting outside learning centers, pleading for spots for their children.
He noted that it costs about $280 per child per year to enroll in a UNICEF-supported center, including psychosocial support. To serve 336,000 children for the remainder of the year, UNICEF urgently needs $86 million in funding.
“That’s roughly what the world spends on coffee in just one or two hours,” he added.
Elder stressed that the Back to Learning program is not just about survival—it’s about preserving Gaza’s future.
He said the program aims to keep hope alive, restore children’s sense of routine, dignity, and direction, and help turn that hope into a tangible path for rebuilding the future.
In related news, UNICEF announced on Tuesday that for the first time in two and a half years, it has managed to deliver school and educational supplies into Gaza—something previously blocked by Israeli authorities.
The supplies include thousands of items like pencils, notebooks, and wooden play blocks.
Elder said UNICEF has recently delivered thousands of recreational kits and hundreds of boxes of school supplies, with plans to send 2,500 more kits next week.