97% of Schools in Gaza Destroyed, UNRWA Confirms

Nearly 97% of schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in the ongoing war, placing the territory’s education system on the brink of total collapse. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned that classrooms, once safe spaces for children, are now unusable or reduced to rubble.

UN Satellite Imagery Confirms Destruction

Fresh satellite imagery released by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) shows that more than nine out of ten school buildings in Gaza, including UNRWA-run facilities, require either full reconstruction or extensive repairs. The Global Education Cluster report, based on these images, confirms that educational infrastructure has been decimated.

UNRWA stressed that schools in Gaza must be protected at all times, calling the scale of destruction unprecedented. Officials warned that depriving children of access to education would have lasting consequences for generations.

Children Left Without Classrooms

The devastation has forced many children out of formal schooling. Classrooms have turned into makeshift shelters for displaced families. UNRWA said tens of thousands of children are still trying to learn despite the famine and bombardment.

In its “Keep Us Learning” campaign, the agency shared testimonies from students. Leen, a young girl from Gaza, said the war robbed her of her school, home and friends. “Now I am in fifth grade. I lost everything. But I will not lose knowledge because I love to study,” she said.

Leen described how, after long days carrying water and searching for food, she still charges her phone to continue studying online. Stories like hers highlight the determination of Gaza’s children to keep learning despite overwhelming challenges.

#Gaza‘s education system is on the verge of complete collapse, with almost every school building damaged in the war.

Recent @UNOSAT satellite imagery shows that more than 9 out of 10 schools – including UNRWA’s – will either need full reconstruction or major work to be… pic.twitter.com/ntBUuYfPco

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) August 24, 2025

Hospitals Overwhelmed as Famine Deepens

While education is collapsing, hospitals in Gaza are also overwhelmed. Liz Allcock from Medical Aid for Palestinians said health facilities are at breaking point, with infants and newborns among the most severely affected by malnutrition.

Paediatric and neonatal intensive care units are overflowing with children suffering life-threatening hunger, leaving no space for patients wounded in bombings, shelling and drone attacks.

“All you see is overcrowding. Children with malnutrition in one bed, others lying on the floor nearby with injuries, and even dead bodies because morgues are full,” Allcock said.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has formally declared famine in Gaza, estimating that over half a million people are now enduring catastrophic conditions.

International Calls for Ceasefire

Humanitarian organizations have intensified their calls for a ceasefire, stressing that both education and healthcare systems cannot survive under continuous bombardment. UNRWA has appealed to the international community to step in and support Palestinian refugee children through donations and advocacy.

“Schools in Gaza should never be targets,” an UNRWA official said. “They represent safety, hope and the future. The destruction of almost every school is not just physical damage, but an attack on children’s right to learn and grow.”

Families Struggling for Survival

For families, the war has created an impossible situation. Many parents say they can no longer prioritize education when food and shelter are so scarce. Yet children continue to carry notebooks and phones, determined to hold onto learning even in displacement camps.

The lack of classrooms has also created psychological stress for students. Teachers working with UNRWA report that children display high levels of trauma, anxiety and hopelessness. Still, they insist on continuing lessons whenever possible, sometimes under tents or in overcrowded shelters.

Education Amid Ruins

Despite the destruction, teachers in Gaza have refused to give up. UNRWA praised educators who have adapted to unimaginable conditions, continuing to teach through remote lessons, makeshift classes and digital platforms.

The agency warned, however, that without urgent international support, sustaining education for Palestinian refugee children will become impossible. The collapse of the school system could permanently deprive a generation of their right to learning.