UNRWA: Children's Education Must Be Part Of The Treaty To End The War In Gaza

Head of UNRWA Lazzarini. (Twitter/@UNLazzarini)

JAKARTA - Commissioner General of the United Nations Aid and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini stressed, ensuring that children's education in Gaza must be the core element of any agreement to end Israel's war on the Gaza Strip.

In a statement on social media X he said, "Children's education should be part of every agreement to end the war in Gaza. The proposed plan should provide hope for more than 660,000 children who have lost education for three years," quoted from WAFA October 1.

Lazzarini further stressed that returning children to classrooms should be a shared priority to promote lasting peace and stability.

UNRWA, thanks to its staff, has the experience, infrastructure and knowledge needed to support the gradual return of formal education to children in the war-torn Gaza Strip, if a ceasefire is reached.

"Before the war, UNRWA provided education in its schools - UN schools - to more than 300,000 children," he said.

Lazzarini called on UN member states to support UNRWA in protecting its mandate and work "so that it can continue to make real differences in the lives and future of Palestinian children."

"Without education, children are at risk of becoming victims of exploitation or extremism," he stressed, warning of the need for an immediate ceasefire.