New school year begins in southern Lebanon, with classrooms doubling as shelters

The new school year in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh governorate has started with classrooms serving both as learning spaces and shelters for families displaced by Israeli attacks.

In the southern town of Froun, Bint Jbeil District, a local public school has been converted into a combined educational and shelter facility ahead of the school year’s start.

Ghina Ammash, a displaced student living in the school with her family, shared her hopes for the year despite the difficult circumstances.

“We hope it will be a good school year, but we’re staying here because we have no other choice. We want to study, succeed, and work when we grow up, and we hope it will be a good school year,” said Ammash, a student at the Froun Intermediate Public School.

School principal Abbas Makki outlined the challenges the faculty and students face as displacement continues in Froun.

“Our student enrollment has dropped by half, and the start of the school year was chaotic. There are students who enrolled here but are unable to secure housing, though they were promised accommodation would be provided for them. We insisted on starting the school year despite the presence of displaced people so no one is shortchanged. We have set aside one floor for housing and another for teaching,” said Makki.

In Nabatieh, the school year opened amid fears of further attacks and forced displacement, with some schools damaged or unusable.

Isaac Muhammad Hammoud, a local high school teacher, noted the staff’s determination.

“Despite the many challenges we face this year – starting with our move from the main building of Hassan Kamel Al-Sabah High School to the Nabatieh Vocational School building – the teachers’ determination to persevere and their sense of responsibility have driven them to overcome these hardships and show up to deliver their message,” said Hammoud, who works at the Hassan Kamel al-Sabbah High School.

“There are many difficulties we face. The situation isn’t good. We move about cautiously, never knowing when the enemy will attack, and we are displaced. Distance learning isn’t enough, in-person learning works better,” said Aya Zaitoun, a student at the shool.

China on Tuesday slammed attempts by the Philippines to harm its sovereignty, rights and interests, vowing that the country will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.

Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a regular news briefing following reports that the Philippines released a new maritime chart covering China’s Nansha Qundao.

It was reported that the Philippine National Maritime Council released on September 25 the updated maritime chart, which has included Zhongye Dao, the Mahuan Dao and other reefs and islands within the scope of China’s Nansha Qundao.

“Zhongye Dao and Mahuan Dao are part of China’s Nansha Qundao and Chinese territory. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters. The scope of Philippine territory is defined by several international treaties. China’s Nanhai Zhudao, including Nansha Qundao, lie beyond that scope,” Guo said.

“The Philippines’ illegal occupation of several islands and reefs in Nansha Qundao, designation of so-called ‘Kalayaan Island Group’ beyond its own territory, and so-called ‘maritime chart,’ which includes relevant islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Qundao, seriously violate China’s territorial sovereignty and the UN Charter and relevant international laws. Those actions are illegal, null and void,” he said.

“China firmly opposes any action of the Philippines that harms China’s sovereignty and rights and interests. China will continue taking necessary measures to firmly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,” said the spokesman.