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Malala Yousafzai is to donate a $50,000 prize towards the rebuilding of United Nations-run schools that were damaged in the Gaza conflict.

The said she would hand over all of the money from the prestigious World Children鈥檚 Prize, which she accepted in Sweden today.

Malala said: 鈥淚 am donating these funds to the , which is performing heroic work to serve children in Gaza, in very difficult circumstances.

鈥淭he needs are overwhelming 鈥� more than half of Gaza鈥檚 population is under 18 years of age. They want and deserve quality education, hope and real opportunities to build a future.鈥�

Sixty-five schools were damaged during the recent conflict, many of them as they housed refugees who had fled from the violence.

Malala, who was in Stockholm to receive the prize, added: 鈥淚nnocent Palestinian children have suffered terribly and for too long. We must all work to ensure Palestinian boys and girls, and all children everywhere, receive a quality education in a safe environment.

鈥淏ecause without education, there will never be peace. Let us stand together for peace and education because together we are more powerful.鈥�

UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Kr盲henb眉hl said he was 鈥渄eeply touched鈥� by Malala鈥檚 decision to donate the money.

He said: 鈥淩ecognition by you, a Nobel Laureate, who has shown so much personal courage and has campaigned so valiantly for the essential right of a child to receive an education, will lift the spirits of a quarter of a million UNRWA students in Gaza and boost the morale of our more than 9000 teaching staff there.

鈥淭heir suffering during the fighting was devastating and your kindness will do much to ease the pain of recent months.鈥�

Mr聽Kr盲henb眉hl said UNWRA shared Malala鈥檚 belief that education was vital in helping to lift girls and boys out of opression and exclusion.

About 聽UNRWA is a United Nations agency which helps about five million Palestininian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Its services include education, health care, relief and social services.

Children in conflicts and emergencies is one of the 100-day themes of the #EducationCountdown. .