Ten-year-old Georges Mouawad, who fled southern Lebanon with his family and is now studying online. (Credit: Laure Delacloche/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Students compelled to continue their education amid the war between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon will receive free internet services "to facilitate distance learning," the media office of caretaker Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm announced in a statement on Thursday.
Since Oct. 8, students have faced immense challenges to their education amid Israel's daily bombing, shelling, and shooting of villages, roads, and agricultural land in southern Lebanon. Many continue to attend school despite the threats of Israeli attacks, while others resort to online learning. A recent statement by UNICEF warned of "the profound long-term impact the violence is taking on children's safety, health and access to education."
Corm's statement said, “With the aim of alleviating the financial burden on students in the border villages in southern Lebanon in light of the current security conditions that have forced a number of public schools to forcibly close," the minister has asked the cellular companies Alfa and Touch to distribute "20 GB of free internet" connectivity for students in the South, to help them continue their studies without being physically present in their schools.