UNESCO warns escalating conflict in Arab states disrupts education for over 100 million children, with school destruction, closures, and rising dropout risks threatening a lost generation amid urgent calls for global intervention and system rebuilding.
A deepening regional crisis is placing unprecedented pressure on education systems across Arab states, leaving millions of children struggling to access even basic learning opportunities. A new report released by UNESCO highlights the alarming scale of disruption, warning that more than 100 million children have been affected as conflict intensifies across the region.
According to the report, at least 15 countries are experiencing severe educational setbacks, with around 52 million school-age children facing interrupted learning due to school closures, restricted access, or a sudden transition to remote education. Even before the recent escalation, nearly 30 million children in the region were already out of school, reflecting long-standing systemic vulnerabilities.
The situation in the Gaza Strip is described as catastrophic. Nearly the entire education infrastructure has been devastated, with approximately 97.5 percent of schools either damaged or destroyed. As a result, over 637,000 children are currently unable to attend school, effectively halting formal education in the territory.
In Lebanon, the crisis has also severely disrupted schooling. More than 1,100 public schools have been repurposed as shelters for displaced families, while at least 570 institutions are either closed or situated in active conflict zones. This has affected the education of more than 240,000 students, many of whom face prolonged uncertainty about their academic future.
The report further underscores how education systems across the region have been forced into emergency modes, relying on hybrid or remote learning solutions. However, these alternatives often suffer from unequal access, poor infrastructure, and inconsistent quality. Students in vulnerable communities are particularly disadvantaged, widening the gap in educational outcomes.
Psychological distress among students is another growing concern. Prolonged exposure to conflict, displacement, and instability has significantly impacted mental well-being, increasing the risk of long-term learning loss and higher dropout rates. Experts warn that without targeted intervention, these effects could persist for years.
In Syria, the situation is further complicated by the return of displaced populations from neighboring regions, including Lebanon. The influx has overwhelmed already fragile school systems, leading to overcrowded classrooms and limited opportunities for re-enrollment. Many returning children have missed substantial periods of schooling, making reintegration difficult.
The impact of the crisis extends beyond immediate conflict zones. In Iraq, around 7,500 schools serving nearly two million students have transitioned to online education. Meanwhile, Gulf nations have implemented temporary school closures and precautionary remote learning measures to ensure safety amid rising tensions.
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UNESCO has issued a stark warning that without urgent and sustained intervention, the region risks facing irreversible losses in human capital. The prospect of a “lost generation” is becoming increasingly real, as millions of children remain disconnected from structured education.
In response, the organization is expanding its emergency initiatives, including the establishment of temporary learning spaces, deployment of digital education platforms, and provision of psychosocial support services. It has also called on the international community to intensify support efforts to ensure continuity in education and rebuild resilient systems capable of withstanding future crises.
