(MENAFN) The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported on Thursday that more than 650,000 young students in the Gaza Strip are being denied access to schooling for the third year in a row.

UNRWA emphasized in a post on the US-based platform X that “in Gaza, children are out of school for a third year in a row.”

It further stated, “for nearly 660,000 girls and boys, returning to learning is not only about education, it’s about starting to heal from deep trauma.”

This highlights the psychological and emotional toll the ongoing conflict is inflicting on Gaza’s youth.

As the principal humanitarian body operating in Gaza, UNRWA reaffirmed its commitment to helping the affected children.

The agency expressed its preparedness to assist them in their educational and emotional recovery. Tamara Alrifai, who leads UNRWA’s external relations efforts, emphasized that a “priority for UNRWA is the education for children and the resumption of learning for children.”

Since hostilities resumed in October 2023, nearly 68,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli military operations, with the majority of casualties being women and children.

The territory has become nearly impossible to live in, according to recent reports.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that 97% of Gaza’s educational facilities have suffered partial or total destruction due to ongoing strikes. This widespread damage has severely hindered any potential return to classroom learning.

A ceasefire accord was reached between Israel and Hamas last week, following a proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump.

The first stage of the agreement involved an exchange: Israeli hostages released in return for Palestinian detainees.

The broader strategy includes reconstructing Gaza and forming a new administrative framework that excludes Hamas.

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