The start of the school year is fast approaching but several schools in Beirut will not be able to open their doors. Destroyed by the double explosion of the port, they are not a priority in a bankrupt Lebanon.

Unesco is trying to raise emergency funds to finance the education of students deprived of classes and its director, Audrey Azoulay, was on site this Thursday, August 27.

In all, 85,000 pupils concerned

A stone's throw from the port of Beirut, the Ashrafiye public school is one of the most affected. In a classroom, the walls threaten to collapse and the front door could not withstand the blast of the explosion.

The 90 students of the establishment will have to follow the online courses: most of them are not equipped but the director Colette Khoury remains optimistic. "Beirut will be reborn again," she told France 24. For lack of teachers and resources, five classes at this establishment have closed over the past two years.

In all, 85,000 students will probably not be able to return to school in September.

Click on the player above to watch this exclusive report from our envoys to Beirut.

The summary of the week France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR