Hundreds of thousands of children in Gaza returned to in-person schooling on September 19 for the first time in nearly three years, filing into damaged school buildings, tents and makeshift classrooms.

UNICEF says 98 percent of Gaza’s schools were destroyed or damaged during the war, and about 660,000 students were kept out of regular classroom education. The Palestinian education ministry expects around 541,000 students to continue learning through roughly 700 in-person learning points and 25 temporary schools, with virtual education for those who cannot attend.

The reopening is a fragile milestone. The conflict killed around 22,000 students and more than 770 education workers, including 532 teachers, according to education officials. Many pupils sit on mats or the floor, with few desks, books or pens.

One Christian school, the Latin Patriarchate School, reopened for 1,005 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 with 77 teachers returning. UNRWA says more than 280,000 children are taking part in its education activities across the territory.