UNRWA has been forced to suspend services in Jenin Camp, in the northern West Bank, for yet another day, as violent clashes between Palestinian Security Forces & Palestinian armed actors continue.
Children remain out of school & camp residents are unable to access primary healthcare & other critical services.
In an alarming trend, tensions are on the rise across northern West Bank refugee camps, undermining the fragile stability.
All sides of these internal confrontations need to uphold the basic principles of international law that guarantee the safety of civilians & their access to basic services in all situations.
For far too long, residents of Jenin and Jenin Camp have been subject to a cycle of violence & destruction, rendering the camp nearly uninhabitable.
It is time to break that cycle & ensure that normal life resumes + UNRWA services continue uninterrupted to support the most vulnerable.
Background Information:
UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The United Nations General Assembly established UNRWA in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations pending a just and lasting solution to their plight.
UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Tens of thousands of Palestine refugees who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the 1948 conflict continue to be displaced and in need of support, nearly 75 years on.
UNRWA helps Palestine Refugees achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.