‘The war has stolen our future’: Gaza children begin second school year without education

Basic classes continue for some but resources are lacking and many children have been put to work

Every evening, for two hours, Asma Mustafa sits down with the small children of Nuseirat camp in central Gaza for what now passes as school in the beleaguered strip. She makes do with what is available: sometimes there are pens and paper for basic maths and literacy, but most of the time class time is taken up with storytelling, singing and play.

I have been doing this since November," said Mustafa, 38, who taught at a girl's high school in Gaza City before the war. Many children are now working or helping their families find basic things like food during the day, but I try to give them a little bit of structure and normality in the evenings."