In Gaza's 'Yellow Zone,' Children Bravely Face Snipers for Education in Makeshift Schools

In the besieged Gaza Strip, the pursuit of education has become a daily act of defiance. For thousands of young students, attending school means navigating a perilous landscape, often under the shadow of gunfire. This urgent reality is starkly exemplified in Beit Lahiya, whereGaza children risk snipers to attend tent schools, turning makeshift classrooms into beacons of hope amidst unimaginable danger.

A Journey Fraught with Terror: Learning in the 'Yellow Zone'

Imagine a seven-year-old like Tulin, preparing for her first day of school in two years. For most, this would be a moment of joyous anticipation. For Tulin and her mother, it's a chapter of terror. The relentless conflict has decimated Gaza’s educational infrastructure, leaving families no option but to establish "tent schools" in areas perilously close to Israeli forces. These zones, designated as the "yellow zone" west of the separation line, are often mere meters from direct threats.

"Every step towards school, my heart is in my hand," Tulin’s mother revealed, her words echoing the fear many parents experience. "I follow her, compelled by an instinct that danger looms, but I am determined for her to learn." The path itself is harrowing, strewn with rubble, with open spaces offering no concealment from potential shelling or stray bullets.

Classrooms Under Fire: Resilience Amidst Danger

Inside these fragile tent classrooms, protection is virtually non-existent. Canvas walls offer no defense against bullets, yet students persevere, seated on the ground, hungry for knowledge. Their teacher recounts a harrowing routine where lessons are frequently interrupted by the sharp crack of sniper fire.

"The location is extremely challenging, right by the occupation forces," the teacher explained. "When shooting erupts, we instruct the children to 'take the sleeping position,' making them lie flat until the gunfire subsides. It sends shivers down my spine, praying for their safety." Despite repeated exposure to gunfire, the educators and students remain resolute. "Their policy is ignorance; ours is knowledge," she asserted, highlighting a profound determination.

Among these brave students is Ahmed, who tragically lost his father in the conflict. "We come with difficulty and leave with difficulty because of the shooting," he shared, "but I want to fulfill my martyred father’s dream of seeing me become a doctor."

Gaza's Education System on the Brink: A Widespread Catastrophe

The desperate scenes in Beit Lahiya are a microcosm of a broader collapse affecting the entire education sector in Gaza. Kazem Abu Khalaf, UNICEF’s spokesperson in Palestine, described the situation as "one of the biggest catastrophes."

UNICEF data indicates that a staggering 98% of schools across the Gaza Strip have sustained damage, ranging from partial to complete destruction. An alarming 88% of these facilities require extensive rehabilitation or total reconstruction. This translates to an immense human toll: approximately 638,000 school-aged children and 70,000 kindergarten-aged children have effectively lost two full academic years and are now entering a third year without proper schooling.

The Invisible Scars: Trauma and Developmental Regression

Beyond the physical destruction, the psychological impact of the war is profoundly disturbing. While UNICEF and its partners have managed to establish 109 temporary learning centers serving 135,000 students, field teams are witnessing severe developmental regression.

"In certain areas, our colleagues have observed that approximately 25% of the children we are supporting have developed speech difficulties," Abu Khalaf revealed. This widespread trauma necessitates significant, specialized intervention from educational and psychological experts.

A Blockade on Learning: The Scarcity of Educational Materials

Adding to the structural damage and psychological scars is a severe logistical blockade. Since the conflict began in October 2023, virtually no educational materials have been permitted to enter the Gaza Strip. "The biggest challenge, truly, is that almost no learning materials have reached Gaza at all," Abu Khalaf confirmed.

UNICEF is preparing to launch a "Back to Learning" campaign targeting 200,000 children, focusing on foundational subjects like Arabic, English, maths, and science. Crucially, the campaign also integrates recreational activities aimed at "repairing the children’s psyche before anything else." However, the success of these vital initiatives hinges entirely on the lifting of restrictions by Israeli authorities.

"We are engaging with all parties, including the Israeli side, to facilitate the entry of learning materials," Abu Khalaf stressed. "It serves no one’s interest for a child in Gaza to be deprived of education."

A Call for Urgent Action

The resilience of Gaza's children, braving sniper fire and destruction for the chance to learn, is a testament to the human spirit. Yet, their future, and the very fabric of their society, depends on immediate international intervention to ensure safe access to education, mental health support, and essential learning resources. The world must act to protect their right to learn, even in the most dangerous of circumstances.