Since October 2023, Gaza has been subject to relentless bombardment and siege. Over 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 173,000 injured. It is estimated that 83% of buildings and 92% of housing in Gaza have been destroyed.
On October 10th 2025, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into force. Nearly 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes or gunfire since the ceasefire, and Israeli military have established ‘buffer zones’ extending the areas under their control beyond the ‘yellow line’ agreed in phase one to control around 64% of territory in Gaza. Border crossings which were opened to allow limited movement of people and import of humanitarian aid have been closed again and only opened sporadically since the USA/Israel and Iran war began.
While the violence has decreased since October 2025, the lack of progress towards real ceasefire and recovery means that humanitarian conditions continue to worsen.
- More than 80% of Gazans are living in tents or temporary shelters, with limited access to water and sanitation services and ongoing shortages of fuel and cooking oil.
- The hospitals that have not been destroyed are struggling to maintain operations serving a large population in need with inadequate supplies and medication while poor shelter and sanitation conditions are contributing to public health risks.
- An estimated 80% of the population are unemployed, meaning that majority of Gazans are reliant on food aid imports for survival.
The ongoing war and large-scale destruction in Gaza have severely impacted the higher education sector, resulting in extensive damage to university infrastructure, disruption of academic services, displacement of students and faculty members, and the suspension of educational activities for prolonged periods. Universities in Gaza have historically played a critical role in strengthening social resilience, preserving hope among youth, and contributing to long-term socio-economic development. However, the destruction of educational facilities now threatens the future of an entire generation of students.
Rehabilitation of higher education facilities
Al-Quds Open University and Al-Azhar University are among the most important higher education institutions serving thousands of students across Gaza. Both universities have sustained significant damage to classrooms, administrative buildings, ICT infrastructure, laboratories, libraries, and essential utilities. The unsafe condition of these facilities has greatly limited students’ access to safe and inclusive learning environments.
However, both of these facilities also have university infrastructure that remains standing despite the widespread destruction, which creates the possibility for rapid and tangible impact through small-scale recovery interventions, rather than requiring full reconstruction. Preliminary technical assessments indicate that a few priority buildings, within the Gaza City campuses of these two universities remain structurally sound and suitable for rehabilitation.
MA’AN Development Centre is working with Al-Quds Open University and Al-Azhar University to rehabilitate educational infrastructure. This includes classrooms, sanitation facilities, and safe spaces, as well as improving essential equipment to ensure a safe, inclusive, and resilient learning environment. The project will enable more than 12,000 students to continue their education under improved conditions that guarantee the quality and continuity of the educational process despite the current challenges.
Specifically, this rehabilitation work will include:
- Rehabilitation of 36 classroom spaces – removing debris and using tarps, cover sheets and dividers to create safe and accessible learning spaces
- Rehabilitating 8 sanitation units (bathrooms) within the university buildings to ensure safe and clean hygiene services for students and teachers.
- Procurement of student chairs to replace destroyed furniture and ensure functional learning spaces.
- Establishing and equipping a safe space on each campus as a supportive psychosocial environment for students.
This is aiming to support 12,000 students to access in-person university learning opportunities, improving the quality of education for students and working conditions for educators.
This rehabilitation support will prevent further deterioration of the higher education system and ensure the continued access of thousands of students to their fundamental right to education. These institutions are not merely educational facilities; they also provide an essential environment for psychological and social stability which is particularly important given the increasing psychological and social pressures facing students in Gaza. Universities serve as key platforms for rebuilding the human capital upon which any future recovery depend, so these activities contribute meaningfully to both immediate recovery efforts and long-term societal resilience.
MA’AN message to Australian supporters
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported our emergency appeal for Gaza. If you would like to contribute, donations are still being accepted here.
Together, we can continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza.