UN agency: 800 Palestinian children will face school closure
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced that six of its schools in East Jerusalem will close by November 8th, affecting 800 Palestinian kids, Middle East Eye reported on April 30th.
The schools affected are located in Shuafat camp, Silwan, Wadi al-Joz, and Sur Baher. Roland Friedrich, UNRWA’s West Bank director, stated that this development threatens children’s futures and violates Israel’s legal obligations. The closures follow Israel’s enforcement of new laws in January 2025 prohibiting UNRWA operations and stopping its privileges. Friedrich expressed concerns that students, especially girls, may lose hope over their future career.
This comes amid broader concerns about the humanitarian situation of Palestinian children. On February 25th, The National reported as cited by Levantis that Palestinian children in Gaza are dying from extreme cold due to inadequate shelter, heating, and clothing. UNICEF warned that newborns and sick children faced life-threatening risks during the winter.
On April 9th, Middle East Eye reported that at least 60,000 children in Gaza face health risks due to malnutrition. The Ministry of Health highlighted shortages of food and clean water as contributing factors. The Middle East Eye reported on April 3rd of the threat of unexploded ordnance to children in Gaza, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the risks facing children in the enclave.
Middle East Eye, citing Al Jazeera, noted on April 7th that 15,000 children have died in Gaza due to indiscriminate Israeli attacks. Displacement reportedly uprooted 1.9 million people. Blocked humanitarian aid has worsened conditions, deepening the suffering of Gaza’s most vulnerable population.
Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, The National
