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Fear of ‘Lost Generation’ as Gaza School Year Begins with All Classes Shut Amid Ongoing War

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The new school year in Gaza began under grim circumstances on Monday, with all schools closed due to 11 months of relentless war and no signs of a ceasefire. As the fighting raged on, Israel issued new evacuation orders for northern Gaza residents in response to rocket fire from the territory.

Umm Zaki, a mother of five, recounted how her son Moataz, who was supposed to start 10th grade, instead woke up in a tent in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah and had to fetch water from over a kilometer away. “Usually, this would be a day of celebration, seeing the children in their new uniforms, dreaming of becoming doctors and engineers,” she said. “Today, all we hope is for the war to end before we lose any of them.”

The Palestinian Education Ministry reported that all schools in Gaza remained shut, with 90% of them damaged or destroyed in Israel’s ongoing offensive, launched after Hamas’ attack on Israeli towns last October. Meanwhile, the U.N.’s Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, has converted many of Gaza’s schools into emergency shelters for displaced families.

Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, expressed concern about the long-term impact on Gaza’s children, warning of a “lost generation” vulnerable to exploitation, including child marriage, labor, and recruitment into armed groups. More than 625,000 students are currently missing school, alongside 58,000 six-year-olds who should have started first grade this year.

In an effort to support children’s mental health, UNRWA launched a back-to-learning program in 45 of its shelters, offering activities such as games, drama, arts, music, and sports.

Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced multiple times. In the latest evacuation notice, Israel warned residents of northern Gaza to leave their homes due to continued rocket fire. The Israeli military reiterated that the area was considered a “dangerous combat zone.”

The United Nations is also urging residents to have their children vaccinated against polio amidst the violence, following Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years. A campaign targeting 640,000 children is underway, with 450,000 vaccinated as of Monday.

The ongoing conflict, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, has so far claimed over 40,900 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Both sides continue to accuse one another of obstructing ceasefire negotiations that could potentially end the violence and secure the release of hostages.

Karachi Schools Closed Amid Rare August Cyclone Threat as Heavy Rains Lash Pakistan’s Largest City

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Schools in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, were shut down on Friday as heavy rains and stormy winds struck the area, driven by a rare cyclonic storm building up in the Arabian Sea. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that parts of Karachi received 147 mm (5.79 inches) of rainfall overnight, leading to significant disruptions across the city. In response, Karachi’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing the importance of staying safe during the ongoing weather event.

The storm is the result of a deep depression currently off the Rann of Kutch in India’s Gujarat region, which meteorologists expect to intensify into a cyclonic storm by the end of the day. According to the Indian weather office, the storm is predicted to continue moving north-westward across the Arabian Sea over the next two days.

As a precaution, Pakistani authorities issued warnings to fishermen and sailors to stay away from the sea. They also alerted the public to the high risk of urban flooding in Karachi and flash floods in the hilly regions in the coming days. Disaster management officials have expressed concern that the storm could cause significant damage, particularly given Karachi’s vulnerability to flooding during heavy rains.

The storm’s unusual timing is also noteworthy. The formation of a cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea in August is rare; the last such occurrence took place in 1964, according to reports. In India’s Gujarat state, over 28 people have already lost their lives due to severe rain and flooding, with around 18,000 residents evacuated from coastal cities since Sunday. More rainfall is expected in the region as the storm continues to build.

The authorities remain on high alert, urging residents of affected areas to take precautions and prepare for the possibility of further flooding.