Gaza: Interactive Map of the Scale of Destruction in the Education Sector

UNRWA: “No Safe Place in the Strip, Not Even in Our Schools”

Since the first day of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, both public schools and those belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) have not been spared from Israeli bombardment, both in the north and the south. Schools are protected under international humanitarian law, and their targeting is considered a violation of international laws and humanitarian norms, potentially escalating to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Despite this, more than 1.1 million displaced individuals have not been spared from targeting in these schools. The Israeli occupying forces committed massacres in many educational institutions, including the UNRWA-affiliated “Al-Fakhoura School” in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza, which was bombed twice during the current war, resulting in dozens of casualties. In response to the massacre, Tamara Al-Rifai, the spokesperson for the organization, said in a television interview, “They (the displaced) thought they could find some safety there (in UNRWA schools), but there is no safe place in Gaza, not even in our schools.” This school is located in one of the largest refugee camps in the strip and had previously been targeted by Israeli airstrikes during the wars in 2009 and 2014. Among the Israeli massacres against the education sector was the bombing of an UNRWA school in the Maghazi camp in central Gaza, which housed 4,000 displaced individuals, as well as the targeting of the “Bureij School” in Gaza City, resulting in dozens of casualties. Shortly before the announcement of the ceasefire, the Israeli army committed its latest massacre in the “Abu Hussein School,” affiliated with UNRWA, in Jabalia camp, resulting in the death of more than 30 people.

In total, as of November 27, 2023, UNRWA has recorded 104 incidents and attacks affecting 82 of its facilities, resulting in the death of at least 218 Palestinian refugees seeking protection there and injuring more than 894. Israeli attacks also led to the death of 109 UNRWA workers since the beginning of the current war, marking the highest toll of UN employees killed in a single conflict in a short period in the history of the United Nations. Flags were at half-mast at UN headquarters worldwide on November 13 as a tribute to the lives of the workers.

As of November 27, 156 schools affiliated with UNRWA, across the governorates of the Gaza Strip, including the north, shelter approximately 1.1 million forcibly displaced individuals from various parts of the strip out of a total population of over 1.8 million within the strip since October 7. This exceeds 80% of the strip’s population, with children constituting at least half of its residents. The average number of displaced individuals in UNRWA facilities is 9,558, surpassing four times their capacity.

With the destruction of around a quarter of a million housing units in the strip and the displacement of residents from the north to the south by the Israeli army, as well as the targeting of educational facilities, the number of displaced individuals continues to rise. According to UNRWA, by November 27, an additional 12,000 displaced individuals sought refuge in the organization’s shelters in the central and southern areas.

A picture of the targeted library in Gaza by an Israeli strike was posted by the Gaza municipality on November 27th

Destruction of Libraries

In addition, Israeli airstrikes destroyed the main library in the Gaza Strip, known as the General Office Building of the Gaza City Municipality. The library was regularly used by the people of the strip, including school students, and contained important historical documents and books.

The municipal authorities in Gaza called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to intervene, protect cultural centers, and condemn the occupation for targeting these protected facilities under international humanitarian law. The Israeli army had previously targeted public libraries in previous wars, such as the 2021 war on the Gaza Strip, where a significant number of libraries were destroyed.

Interactive Map

To illustrate the extent of losses in the education sector due to Israeli airstrikes, UNICEF published an interactive map with the names of official schools and those affiliated with UNRWA, according to the governorates of the strip and the extent of damage to each facility.

The data is based on preliminary reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and UNRWA, as well as some partners, until November 20. The map details the names of educational facilities that have been partially or significantly damaged, along with the number of affected students and teachers. For example, the map shows that the number of official schools and those affiliated with UNRWA that were damaged to some extent or significantly in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, is 63 facilities, and in Rafah, also in the south, 35 facilities, with the likelihood that the numbers increased during days of the war not covered by the map.

While Gaza is reeling under a genocide violating all international laws and temporary truces, UNICEF reiterated its call for a humanitarian ceasefire, the protection of relief workers, children, and their families.