The Palestinian Human Rights Organization (Witness) has followed with concern the decision announced by UNRWA in Lebanon on 3 June 2026 to proceed with school examinations and continue educational activities in the camps of the Tyre area, at a time when the region is witnessing escalating security tensions and repeated Israeli airstrikes that raise serious concerns regarding the safety of civilians, including students and educational staff.
The Organization reaffirms the importance of the right to education and the need to ensure the continuity of the educational process whenever possible. However, this right must be exercised within a framework that guarantees the safety and well-being of children and educational personnel, while taking into account the exceptional circumstances currently affecting the area.
The Organization believes that this decision raises several human rights and humanitarian concerns, including:
1. The need to accord the highest priority to the safety and security of students and educational staff, and to take all necessary precautionary measures to avoid exposing them to potential risks arising from the ongoing security developments.
2. The need to reassess the appropriateness of continuing routine educational activities amid the prevailing climate of fear, uncertainty, and instability affecting the Palestinian camps and gatherings in the Tyre area.
3. The importance of activating emergency response and humanitarian contingency measures in a more flexible manner, including strengthening relief programs and providing emergency assistance to affected families facing severe economic and living hardships as a result of the continuing military escalation.
These concerns are grounded in the fundamental principles governing the work of international and humanitarian organizations, foremost among them the principle of the best interests of the child, as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the obligation to take reasonable measures to protect civilians and ensure the safe delivery of essential services during emergencies and crises.
While calling upon UNRWA's administration to reassess the measures currently in place in light of the rapidly evolving situation on the ground, the Organization stresses the importance of consultation with popular committees, parents' committees, educational bodies, and representatives of civil society in order to reach solutions that appropriately balance the right to education with the rights to safety and security.
The Organization also calls upon the international community and relevant stakeholders to provide the necessary support to UNRWA, enabling it to respond effectively to the growing humanitarian needs of Palestine refugees in Lebanon and to ensure that they are not subjected to additional burdens under the current circumstances.
*Beirut, 4 June 2026*