Sep, 2024
The Impact of War on Education
This program is supported by UNICEF.
Southern Lebanon, already plagued by conflict, now faces a dire crisis as the war intensifies. Educational centers, once safe havens for displaced students, are now caught in the crossfire, disrupting the lives of thousands.
Recent data shows that over 40% of schools in southern Lebanon have been damaged or destroyed, affecting more than 100,000 students. The psychological toll is likely to be just as damaging, with one in four children in conflict zones suffering from mental health issues, according to UNICEF.
As the conflict rages on, the stories of those affected highlight the profound negative impact on education and the urgent need for support.
The blood on the streets...
Hadeel, a 21-year-old student from Homs, Syria, reflects on her traumatic past and the recent airstrike near Anera’s partner in Saida, the Culture and Science Foundation (CSF), where she studies.
“We left Syria in 2013 during the war. I still remember the blood on the streets and the times my mom and I had to hide in shelters. We left our beloved country to stay safe and continue our studies. But now, the memories are flooding back.
“I’m a student in the cooking class provided by Anera at CSF, which is located near two Palestinian camps. When the strike happened nearby, all I could think about was that it’s happening again. We left Syria because of war, and now war is here. Will I ever have a normal life?”
"We left Syria because of war, and now war is here. Will I ever have a normal life?”
Displaced again and again...
Basmala, an 18-year-old student from Hama, Syria, shares her journey of displacement.
“We came to Lebanon in 2010 after a rocket hit our house in Syria. My family decided to leave for somewhere more safe. We settled in southern Lebanon near the border, but when the war started on October 7, we had to flee again, this time to Saida.
“We've been displaced three times—from Syria, then within Lebanon. Now, after the strike near our home and where I study, I’m not sure we’re safe anywhere anymore. I never asked for much! just safety for my family and the chance to finish school, find a job, and live a good life.”
Panic and fear…
Mayssa, the deputy manager at CSF, describes the chaos and fear that ensued after the airstrike:
“We're running two courses with Anera, cooking and construction, with 56 students in total, most of them female. When the strike happened, we first thought it was just a sonic boom. But when we saw the black smoke and the students’ terrified reactions, we realized it was much more serious. We evacuated the students immediately and contacted their families to assure them of their safety.
“Many of our students are displaced from Syria; they’ve seen the horrors of war and panicked.
“Our association is in a residential area located between two Palestinian camps. We never thought a strike would happen here. Now, we fear our students won’t return because they’re too scared. To help them, we’ve provided mental health sessions and encouraged them to speak openly about their fears.
“We just want this war to end—in Lebanon and Gaza. We want to live normal lives, nothing more.”
"Now, we fear our students won’t return because they’re too scared... We just want this war to end—in Lebanon and Gaza. We want to live normal lives, nothing more.”
A Plea for Peace
The stories of Hadeel, Basmla, and Mayssa are just a few of the many voices emerging from southern Lebanon. The war has not only disrupted education but has reignited fears and traumas that many thought they had left behind.
Educational centers, once places of hope and learning, are now overshadowed by the looming threat of violence. As the conflict continues, the need for peace and stability becomes ever more urgent. These voices cry out not just for themselves but for a future where education and safety are guaranteed for all.
Lebanon
South Governorate
The South Governorate of Lebanon is a beautiful place with white beaches, archeological ruins, bustling old souks, fertile fields of citrus and banana trees, and a deep history. Its residents are from different religions: Shia and Sunni Muslims, Druze, Eastern Orthodox, Maronite, Protestant, and Greek Catholic Christians. Its biggest cities are also the third and fourth largest in the country, Saida and Tyre.
