The State of Qatar is actively participating in the emergency meeting of the Palestine Children Educational Affairs Council held at the Arab League’s Secretariat-General in Cairo. This meeting, which lasts for two days, aims to address the urgent needs and severe challenges facing the education sector in the Gaza Strip. Ali Hussain Al Jarhab represented the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the Arab League at this important event.
The Arab League Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and the Occupied Arab Territories, Ambassador Saeed Abu Ali, highlighted the goal of the meeting, which is to follow up on the catastrophic situation of the education sector in Gaza. He emphasized the impact of ongoing Israeli aggression on schools and the urgent needs of the sector. This meeting is a demonstration of duty towards supporting Palestine against Israeli aggression and providing necessary assistance to the Palestinian education sector.
The education sector in the Gaza Strip has suffered immensely due to the significant human and material losses caused by the ongoing conflict. Schools, including those run by the UNRWA, have been turned into shelters and have not been spared from destruction. The situation demands immediate action and support mechanisms to address the urgent needs, alleviate the impact of the disaster, and secure the future of Palestinian education and generations.
Minister of Education and Higher Education in the Palestinian government, Dr. Amjad Barham, shed light on the destruction caused by Israeli occupation forces to Palestinian schools and universities in Gaza. Over 300 schools were destroyed, with a significant number of students losing their lives, getting injured, and becoming disabled as a result of the war. The education sector has been severely impacted, with a vast number of teachers also losing their lives in the conflict.
President of Al Azhar University Gaza, Prof Omar Milad, highlighted the challenges faced by students in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict. Thousands of students were unable to take exams, and the higher education sector has also been severely affected by the Israeli occupation. The destruction of universities and schools has caused immense suffering among students, with no end in sight to the violence and aggression in the region.
As the emergency meeting in Cairo continued to address the urgent needs of the education sector in Gaza, the focus remained on providing support and assistance to alleviate the impact of the conflict. The Palestinian education system faces a long road to recovery, but with the support of the international community and organizations such as the Arab League, there is hope for rebuilding and securing a better future for Palestinian students and generations to come. The importance of education in sustaining the resilience of the Palestinian people cannot be understated, and efforts must continue to ensure that every child has access to quality education despite the challenges faced in the region.
