School Attacks Jumped 40% in 2024, Concentrated in Three Conflict Zones

The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack documented 8,566 verified attacks on schools and universities in 2024—a 40% increase from 2022–2023. Palestine, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for the highest numbers. In Gaza and the West Bank, dense settlement patterns and sustained operations drove incident counts. Ukraine's figures reflect sustained air campaigns targeting civilian infrastructure. The DRC's contribution spans multiple active fronts across four provinces. The spike reflects genuine intensification, not merely improved detection.