Attacks on schools in conflict zones worldwide have surged by a staggering 44% over the past year, leaving thousands of teachers and students dead, abducted, or traumatized, according to a UN report released Tuesday, September 9. The United Nations documented over 41,000 incidents of violence against school-age children in 2024, with Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti recording the highest violation levels.
The alarming statistics emerged as communities worldwide observed September 9th’s International Day to Protect Education, highlighting education’s vulnerability in armed conflicts. The UN’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict revealed that sexual violence against children also increased by 34%, while overall grave violations rose 17% due to abductions and recruitment practices.
Gaza exemplifies this education crisis, where 660,000 children remain out of school as classrooms serve as shelters for displaced families. “There is no education now. We live inside the school, where we are displaced, eating and sleeping,” explained Diana, a Gaza child. Despite these challenges, UNICEF has reached over 68,000 children through temporary learning spaces and innovative solutions like converting supply boxes into furniture. In Ukraine, 5.3 million children face educational barriers, with 115,000 completely out of school and 1,850 facilities damaged since the conflict began.
International law requires all conflict parties to respect schools as safe spaces and hold attackers accountable. UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked the International Day to Protect Education by declaring that “no child should risk death to learn.” “The pen, the book, and the classroom are all mightier than the sword,” Guterres emphasized, calling for protection of every child’s fundamental right to safe education.
