The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced in a statement that due to the severe damage inflicted on its eight schools in Ain al-Hilweh camp, and since access remains difficult because of the security situation in the camp, as well as the continued provision of shelter by some schools outside the camp for a number of displaced families, the opening of the school year for Palestinian refugee students in Sidon, including those from Ain al-Hilweh camp, has been postponed compared to all other UNRWA school students who will start their school year on Monday, October 2.
UNRWA has worked to find alternative solutions for the children of Ain al-Hilweh camp to uphold their right to education, which should not be compromised under any circumstances. Consequently, the new arrangements for the school year in Sidon for 2023/2024 are as follows: Teachers and administrative staff in schools located in areas considered safe, specifically the schools in Akka, Al-Aouja, and Asqalān, will begin their duties on October 5, while students registered in these schools will start their new school year on October 9.
Approximately 6,000 children from Ain al-Hilweh camp will be temporarily accommodated in nearby UNRWA schools or those located in Sidon, utilizing a double shift system. This arrangement includes the use of the schools in Deir Qasi, Al-Sakhra, and Martyrs of Palestine (all of which are located near the camp and just after the barriers), as well as the use of the schools in Nablus and Rfidiya in Sidon, for which transportation to and from the camp will be provided.
The statement added: “For the UNRWA schools adjacent to the camp: Students from the Baysan and Al-Samu schools will be accommodated in the Al-Sakhra school building under the double shift system, students from the Qabyi and Al-Falouja schools in the Deir Qasi school building under the double shift system, and students from the Hattin and Safad schools in the Martyrs of Palestine building under the double shift system. We expect that the necessary adjustments and infrastructure improvements required for the Sakhra, Deir Qasi, and Martyrs of Palestine school buildings will take at least three weeks to ensure the accommodation of the additional numbers of students and faculty members.”
Dorothy Klaus, the UNRWA Director of Affairs in Lebanon, stated: “We recognize the significant challenges facing the Ain al-Hilweh community now, especially our students. We thank the students, their parents, and the staff of the host schools and those hosted from Ain al-Hilweh in advance for their solidarity and acceptance of the necessary double shift system and transitional arrangements. These are temporary measures due to the unavailability of schools currently in Ain al-Hilweh, which require major maintenance and reconstruction work and ensuring the necessary conditions to serve as safe educational spaces before resuming operations. We are exploring every possible solution to ensure that all students in Sidon receive uninterrupted education throughout the 2023/2024 school year. Sustainable peace in Ain al-Hilweh camp remains crucial for providing a safe environment in which our students can learn, grow, and succeed.”
