Children in Gaza are bearing the brunt of the ongoing conflict with Israel, as thousands have been deprived of classes during schools opening, which would be Monday.
After 11 months of hostilities, more than 600,000 students are being deprived of access to formal education for another year, according to the UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA).
UNRWA reports that no official schooling is available in any of its 200 schools, with many serving as shelters for displaced Palestinians.
Instead of going to school, 12-year-old Iyad is selling juice at a street corner in Gaza City to help his family stay afloat amid the ongoing conflict. Iyad and his younger brother have taken to the streets - one selling juice, the other selling candy.
"I should have been in sixth grade, but I can't go to school anymore. We have to go out and sell things. I feel very sad because I miss school life. I have no homework or exams now. Every day, I hope to see my friends, but now I just sell things - selling drinks to help my father support the family. I often see attacks on the streets, and I'm very scared," said Iyad.
Throughout the Gaza Strip, there are countless children like Iyad. Karim is one of them, who was supposed to advance to a higher grade this September, but now spends his days dragging a large ice cooler through the streets, selling water. "Sitting in a classroom with teachers and classmates, learning together - that would be wonderful, much better than selling water. At least in school, we could study, play, and laugh together. We wouldn't be wasting time. We worked hard to get good grades, but since the outbreak of the conflict, we have been forced to sell things. That's the reality," said Karim.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the number of humanitarian missions and movements that Israeli authorities denied access in Gaza nearly doubled in August compared to July, with 105 missions and movements denied last month versus 53 the previous month.
Conflict in Gaza disrupts school year for thousands of children
Conflict in Gaza disrupts school year for thousands of children
