Karameh tours south Lebanon schools, announces $570,000 in new aid

BEIRUT — Education Minister Rima Karameh toured schools in southern Lebanon to deliver financial and material assistance to institutions and students.

During the visit, the European Union — represented by an attending official — announced an additional $570,000 in funding to support around 30 schools in border towns along the front lines of daily Israeli attacks despite the cease-fire.

In Marjayoun, Karameh distributed school supplies subsidized by the European Union and UNICEF. Her visit follows that of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Feb. 7 and 8.

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Aid for 44,000 students

In a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency, the ministry said the assistance included more than 150,000 textbooks, over 1,400 digital devices and internet routers, and more than 2,180 school supply kits containing educational materials and Lego sets donated by the company.

The donations were distributed to 98 schools, including 37 public institutions, reaching over 44,000 students.

The acting head of the EU delegation to Lebanon, Sami Saade, announced “additional funding” of $570,000 to support 37 schools affected by Israeli attacks. The amount adds to $13.8 million already allocated by donors to support education in the South and Nabatieh governorates during the current academic year.

The beneficiary schools were selected based on their level of vulnerability, the extent of their needs and student enrollment, the EU official said.

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Ensuring continuity of learning

Karameh also visited the public school in Jdeidet Marjayoun and met with school principals from the region.

She also visited Khiam (Marjayoun), which was the grounds of heavy fighting between Hezbollah and Israeli fighters during Israel's ground offensive in the fall of 2024. The Israeli army has continued to target Khiam with strikes and home demolitions since the November 2024 cease-fire.

In its statement, the ministry stressed its and donors' commitment to ensuring the continuity of education in conflict-affected areas. Karameh cited “concrete and clear measures” taken by the ministry, saying “the children of the South deserve their schools to remain open.”

During his recent visit to the South, Salam said his government is working to support southern Lebanon, which suffered extensive damage during the war between Hezbollah and Israel from October 2023 until today.

He outlined three pillars of support: humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and economic and social recovery. Funding streams include $250 million in loans from the World Bank, 75 million euros from the French Development Agency (AFD), and 35 million euros in grants from the European Union, France and Denmark, aimed in part at supporting agriculture and local cooperatives.