Israel's war on Gaza could cost children up to five years of education, UN report warns

The ongoing war in Gaza could set back the education of children and youth by up to five years, according to a report by academics working with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa).

“The most optimistic prediction - assuming an immediate ceasefire and a rapid international effort to rebuild the education system - is that students will lose two years of learning,” Unrwa stated in a summary of the report. “If the fighting continues until 2026, the losses could extend to five years.”

The report also noted that this estimate does not take into account the additional impacts of trauma, famine and forced displacement, which are further exacerbating Gaza’s education crisis.

More than 80 percent of Gaza’s schools have been damaged or destroyed since Israel started bombing Gaza in October last year.