Makkah School Opens in Gaza as Students Begin New Academic Year

TDT | Manama

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Makkah School in the southern Gaza Strip has welcomed students for the new academic year, offering a dedicated learning environment for children whose education has been disrupted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Supported by Saudi Arabia's aid agency, KSrelief, the school's opening included orientation activities to familiarize students with the facilities and prepare them for the academic year. Health preparations were also conducted, including medical, dental and eye examinations, along with vaccinations for first-grade students in coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the school is part of a broader Saudi-backed initiative to establish and operate safe educational spaces for children affected by disruptions to schooling in Gaza.

The school currently has capacity for 1,000 male and female students and provides 32 teaching positions, with plans to expand its capacity to 4,000 students during a later phase.

Ibrahim Ramadan, Director of Education in eastern Khan Younis, described the school as an important step toward rebuilding the education sector and restoring the educational process. He expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's humanitarian support for the Palestinian people, emphasizing the importance of education in building the future.

The initiative follows an agreement signed in April between KSrelief and the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage to establish and operate field schools and provide psychosocial support for children whose education has been interrupted. The center, which serves as KSrelief's implementing partner in Gaza, oversees the operation of the educational facilities.

Saudi humanitarian assistance to Gaza has also included support for displaced families and schoolchildren. In January, KSrelief distributed winter clothing to school and kindergarten students, while in June it provided food baskets to displaced people sheltering in schools in Khan Younis.

The relief agency has also continued delivering essential supplies, including food and shelter assistance. A KSrelief aid convoy carrying tents arrived in Gaza last week for distribution to families affected by the humanitarian crisis.

The latest school initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia's wider humanitarian response through KSrelief, with a focus on supporting essential services and helping children in Gaza maintain access to education amid ongoing challenges.