Over 8.5 Million Children Return to School in Conflict-Affected Regions

The 2025-2026 academic year has commenced with millions of children returning to school in various conflict-affected and recovering regions. In Israel, approximately 2.5 million students, including 180,600 first graders and 149,000 twelfth graders, began classes amid ongoing teacher shortages and notable demographic shifts favoring religious Jewish schools. In the Gaza border and northern Israeli communities, children returned to schools for the first time since the October 7, 2023 attack, symbolizing resilience and hope, with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee highlighting the significance of this return despite ongoing hostage situations. Ukraine marked the start of its school year for over 3.5 million children, with nearly 2.3 million attending in person, supported by new shelters and expanded digital infrastructure to maintain education amid war. Additionally, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) continues its efforts in countries like Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Syria, Lebanon, and Pakistan, providing critical educational support to Christian families facing persecution and displacement, emphasizing education as both a refuge and a means of sustaining communities under threat.