Thanks to the steadfast support from its donors and partners, UNRWA today opened its school doors and 526,000 Palestine refugee kids across the Middle East, like children all over the world, can look forward to going back to school to learn, explore and have fun with their friends, in spite of the challenges many of them face in an uncertain environment. Perhaps more than others, they are aware that this is their passport to the future lived in dignity, safety and security.
For the past 70 years UNRWA has successfully protected the right to education for Palestine refuge children through its network of over 700 schools, providing inclusive and quality education, including during times of conflict, blockade and occupation, in the process graduating some 2 million pupils. Even though UNRWA today celebrates the right to education with the timely start of the academic year, additional financial support will be required to keep the doors open.