In Egyptian Sinai, a school founded by a teacher from Gaza for children displaced by war
Agencies4 min read
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In the governorate of North Sinai, Egypt, Palestinian teacher Hediel Za'arb watches dozens of children displaced from Gaza as they enter the only Palestinian school in the region, which she founded herself after the war forced them to leave their homes.
These are part of hundreds of Palestinian children who were uprooted from their land due to the war between the Israeli occupation army and Hamas, and are now living in the coastal city of Arish, known for its dirt streets and low-rise residential buildings, located 44 kilometers from the border with the devastated and afflicted Strip.
Za'arb, who also fled due to the war in Gaza, told Agence France-Presse, "They fled to Egypt and found themselves here without schools or education. So I decided to establish an educational center for them."
Za'arb fled Gaza with her family six months after the outbreak of the war in October 2023, following the attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent unprecedented Israeli military aggression in response.
The family settled in Arish, which has become a major hub for aid convoys and medical evacuations from Gaza. They received assistance from their relatives to start a new life.
In collaboration with other displaced Palestinian teachers, Za'arb began teaching a small group of children in a rented building. This initiative then evolved into a free school benefiting around 400 students and pupils aged between 6 and 18, up from about 150 students in the first year of establishment.
Za'arb explained that as the number of enrolled students increased, the costs of rent and school supplies were covered with the support of the "Misr El Kheir" Foundation, one of Egypt's largest charitable organizations.
- Colors away from war -
In the schoolyard, children wearing Palestinian keffiyehs and traditional embroidered robes in bright colors line up, waving Palestinian flags and participating in the morning assembly before dispersing to their classes.
Inside, teachers distribute pens and textbooks based on the Palestinian curriculum, many of which were brought from the Gaza Strip.
Some students are eagerly browsing their new books, while others sit behind desks in preparation for lessons. Some are trying to solve handwritten math problems on whiteboards.
In the hallway, children draw colorful houses, flowers, and sea scenes with colored pencils. Soon, the building echoes with singing, clapping, and laughter, far from the memories of a war that many of them narrowly escaped just a few months ago.
Some students arrived in Arish seeking treatment for injuries sustained in the war, while others fled with their families. Most of them currently reside in temporary, free housing provided by the Egyptian authorities, while others continue to receive rehabilitation and medical care following surgeries.
Palestinian mother Anas Shahtah told Agence France-Presse, "We hope they can achieve their dreams despite the difficult and tragic circumstances we are living in outside Gaza."
Outside, dilapidated minibuses traverse unpaved roads, while parents wait to pick up their children after school hours.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), more than 14,000 Palestinian children of school age have been displaced to Egypt since the outbreak of the war.
- 'Lost generation' -
Many families who have come to Egypt face difficulties accessing online education due to the costs of internet access and electronic devices, as well as the high cost of living and their uncertain legal status in the country.
In the Gaza Strip, after nearly three years of war, the education system has been completely destroyed. United Nations agencies estimate that about 98% of schools have been damaged or completely destroyed.
Most children of school age in the Strip, numbering around 658,000, have had little opportunity to receive regular education for over two academic years. This situation has led relief agencies and the United Nations to warn of the emergence of a 'lost generation'.
Last month, thousands of children returned to classrooms in Gaza for the first time since the outbreak of the war.
Teacher Hamid Abu Daher explained that the school's mission in Arish is not only to provide lessons but also to help children recover from the psychological effects of war and displacement, while maintaining their sense of belonging.
He added to Agence France-Presse, "We work as a team to compensate for what the students have missed and integrate them into the school environment. When they eventually return to Gaza, they will not feel alienated from the school atmosphere."
