<\/p>\n
7 April 2026<\/p>\n
Amid the crisis in Gaza, UNESCO has already mobilized $5.7 million to protect cultural heritage, restore access to education, and sustain the media sector. This emergency package has enabled the rapid deployment of first interventions. UNESCO and its partners aim to mobilize $116.5 million to support emergency and recovery efforts. These initiatives will focus on safeguarding culture in all its forms, restoring access to learning, accelerating skills development, rebuilding human capital, and strengthening a transparent and resilient media sector\u2014key pillars for rebuilding communities and supporting long-term recovery.<\/p>\n
Protecting cultural heritage and supporting communities<\/strong><\/p>\n To date,<\/span>164 heritage sites have been damaged in the Gaza strip<\/span><\/a>, threatening cultural assets that embody the identity and history of the Palestinian people.<\/span><\/p>\n In response, UNESCO, together with the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation, is carrying out urgent stabilization and debris management in the Old City of Gaza to safeguard damaged heritage while supporting early recovery. The initiative focuses on emergency stabilization, debris removal and the preservation of architectural elements that will enable future rehabilitation and supports conflict-affected communities by creating employment opportunities for local workers and heritage professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n So far,\u00a0five heritage sites have been stabilized, generating\u00a01,850 working days for 30 local workers. Seven additional sites are currently undergoing stabilization.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In partnership with UNITAR-UNOSAT, UNESCO continues to monitor damage to cultural heritage sites through satellite analysis, supporting evidence-based protection and recovery efforts. At the same time, technical training on damage assessment and emergency stabilization has been delivered to local professionals,\u00a075% of whom are women, strengthening local capacity to protect heritage during crises.<\/span><\/p>\n UNESCO\u2019s work also addresses the social and human impact of the crisis<\/span>. Through cultural and artistic activities<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0more than 8,000 internally displaced children, youth, and parents\u00a0have already received\u00a0<\/span>mental health and psychosocial support<\/span><\/a>, helping to strengthen\u00a0<\/span>resilience and social cohesion<\/span><\/a>. Looking ahead, UNESCO will expand these support activities to reach\u00a0over 21,000 children, youth, caregivers, and cultural professionals\u00a0through cultural institutions, while providing targeted grants to artists to help revitalize Gaza\u2019s cultural and creative sector as communities embark on the long road to recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n Supporting education and early recovery<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The crisis in Gaza has taken a severe toll on the education sector, with $379 million in damage to tertiary education and TVET facilities and over 80% of campuses damaged or destroyed. The human impact is equally stark: nine in ten higher education students report needing psychosocial support, while eight in ten tertiary education personnel are displaced or living in difficult conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In response, UNESCO\u2019s Education in Emergencies and Early Recovery programme is helping internally displaced children continue learning despite the crisis. Using child-centred edutainment methods in mathematics and Arabic, the programme supports children in grades 1 to 4. Complementing this, a Social and Emotional Learning initiative addresses the urgent needs of children from KG2 to grade 4, while also providing training for parents and teachers. To support secondary education,\u00a01,000 tablets have been delivered\u00a0to facilitate exam participation.<\/span><\/p>\n Higher education in Gaza has also adapted through the\u00a0<\/span>Gaza Virtual Campus<\/span><\/a>, whose first phase launched in October 2025. The programme currently reaches up to\u00a020% of Gaza\u2019s higher education students, with plans to expand to approximately 30%. In total,\u00a0over 30,000 students\u00a0will be able to virtually resume degree-conferring programmes.<\/span><\/p>\n UNESCO has also established temporary learning spaces with integrated mental health and psychosocial support, in partnership with Al-Quds Open University and the Islamic University of Gaza. Two additional spaces were recently launched for\u00a02,700 students, bringing the total number of higher education spaces in Gaza to five. These multipurpose learning spaces now serve\u00a013,800 tertiary students, including 6,912 women.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Continuing my education felt almost impossible. Whithout electricity, internet or a laptot, my dream felt completely out of reach. When I started using the learning spaces, many things changed, it became a lifeline, giving us the tools and hope to keep learning and dreaming. – Malak<\/em>, 20 years old.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A comprehensive on-site assessment of Gaza\u2019s tertiary education sector has also been conducted, providing a baseline for recovery planning by the Government and partners. Looking ahead, UNESCO plans to expand its livelihoods and skills development programme by opening\u00a0three additional TVET temporary learning spaces, offering accelerated, labor-market-relevant skills training and job placement support for Gaza\u2019s youth.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Empowering journalists in Gaza<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n UNESCO continues to monitor the situation of journalists in Gaza and implements initiatives that strengthen media professionals with essential skills, equipment, and psychosocial support. To date, over 1,010 Gazan journalists \u2013 60% women \u2013 benefitted from psychosocial support, training, cash for work schemes, kits, or equipment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Organization recently facilitated the procurement of laptops, audio recorders, mobile phones, and connectivity solutions for\u00a0200 journalists, and enhanced professional competencies and resilience among\u00a0more than\u00a0600 journalists\u00a0through targeted training and support.<\/span><\/p>\n In partnership with the Palestine Red Crescent Society,\u00a0<\/span>UNESCO provided psychosocial support and training to\u00a0around 300 journalists\u00a0in Gaza<\/span><\/a>. Weekly group discussions and individual sessions focused on stress management, emotional well-being, and trauma coping strategies, using a holistic approach that included breathing, mindfulness, gentle movement, and creative activities.<\/span><\/p>\n UNESCO trained\u00a0310 journalists\u00a0in ethical reporting, mobile journalism, and high\u2011quality photo and video production. Workshops on disinformation covered fact\u2011checking methodologies, detecting AI\u2011generated false information, and using digital verification tools. Trainees produced\u00a0134 fact\u2011checking pieces, contributing to a more informed and resilient media environment.<\/span><\/p>\n With a particular focus on\u00a0<\/span>women journalists<\/span><\/a>, through We Are Journalism, delivered with Nisaa FM and funded by the IPDC,\u00a0<\/span>training was focused on gender\u2011sensitive media production, fact\u2011checking during conflict and mental health awareness<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n During this training, I learned that writing is a powerful tool for impact and change. It helped me see myself from a new perspective. Hala Eid<\/em>, journalist from Gaza<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Furthermore,\u00a0over 1,000 Gaza\u2011based journalists will receive comprehensive assistance, including psychosocial support, training, cash\u2011for\u2011work schemes, and access to professional kits and equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Working with partners, calling for additional support<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n UNESCO\u2019s work in time of crisis is carried out in close collaboration with national authorities, local communities, and international partners to maximize impact and reach. Looking ahead, UNESCO calls on the international community to increase support and investment, ensuring that these efforts can be scaled up to protect cultural heritage, expand access to education, protect journalists, empower women and strengthen youth livelihoods. Ultimately, working for the people, UNESCO strives to build resilient communities capable of sustaining long-term recovery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 7 April 2026 Amid the crisis in Gaza, UNESCO has already mobilized $5.7 million to protect cultural heritage, restore access to education, and sustain the media sector. This emergency package has enabled the rapid deployment of first interventions. UNESCO and its partners aim to mobilize $116.5 million to support emergency and recovery efforts. 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