One hundred thousand Lebanese children won’t be able to go to school this year

Lebanon’s inability to rebuild schools that were destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks leaves about 100,000 children without hope of going to school again this year.

“At least 100,000 children in Lebanon could lose their place to study when the new school year starts, unless urgent steps are taken before September to repair and improve the schools damaged in the recent conflict,” UNICEF said in a statement reported by the Russian news agency Sputnik on Saturday, July 4.

A national assessment conducted in June by the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education, with technical support from UNICEF, found that 340 schools in Lebanon were damaged or destroyed, including public and private educational institutions and technical and vocational training centers.

The UN agency noted that 17 schools were completely destroyed.

Damage occurred in the districts most affected by the conflict, including Nabatieh, South Lebanon, Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Beirut, and Mount Lebanon.

According to the report, many schools suffered only partial damage, but many need major repairs or even rebuilding before they can accommodate students.