Schools in Gaza close as fighting threatens safety of children and teachers

According to a report from TheirWorld, an outbreak of violence has prompted action from the UN agency that educates 270,000 children in Gaza. The United Nations agency that provides education for Palestinians (UNRWA) closed all schools in the Gaza strip yesterday because of the dangers posed to the students and teachers.

Palestinians have fired over 400 rockets or mortar bombs across the border into Israel since yesterday. In response, Israeli forces have carried out air strikes on dozens of targets – some of the worse fighting the region has seen in almost four years. The violence began after a botched Israeli commando raid in Gaza on Sunday in which eight people died, in addition to the four that were killed on Tuesday.

UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness told Their News:

“We are keeping the situation under constant review because we are determined that some 270,000 UNRWA students in Gaza should continue with their education.”

The closure of Gaza's schools comes just days after UNRWA said all of its 711 schools there and in the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq would stay open for the rest of the academic year despite a funding crisis, according to the report.

In response to the violence, Gunness Tweeted:

"Staff report the ground and buildings shaking as if an earthquake is striking. All sides must support ceasefire efforts to avoid descent into Gaza's fourth war in a decade."

The UNRWA continues to monitor the situation and hopes a ceasefire materialises soon so the education of 270,000 children can continue.

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Photo Credit: UNRWA