On the evening of Monday, September 23, 2024, Al-Hikma School in Kafraya, located in the northeastern countryside of Idlib, came under direct attack by artillery and rocket fire from Syrian government forces and their allies.
Al-Hikma School, a key educational facility supported by Shafak, was one of the ten schools targeted in 2024 alone, marking a disturbing trend of attacks on educational institutions.
The strikes, which occurred between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, caused structural damage to the school, particularly to the storeroom and parts of the building. Fortunately, due to the absence of students and teaching staff at the time, no casualties were reported within the school premises. The incident, however, disrupted the planned administrative activities ahead of the 2024/2025 academic year, which were to be carried out by the school’s staff.
Shafak Organization strongly condemns this deliberate targeting of schools and other vital infrastructure, emphasizing the severe impact these attacks have on the education system and the safety of civilians. We reiterate our call for the protection of schools, healthcare centers, and all critical infrastructure in conflict zones.
Shafak affirms that the systematic targeting of medical centers, schools, and vital infrastructure sends a clear message: there are no boundaries to the violation of human rights in northwest Syria. Such actions are not only a breach of international law but also a direct assault on the basic principles of humanity.