27 July 2010
West Bank
The protection programme at UNRWA, in cooperation with Vento Di Terra, Inad Theater and the Cooperative Committee of the Jerusalem Bedouins, today concluded its ten-day children’s summer camps in Wadi Abu Hindi.
Forty children took part in the camp, which included activities such as drama, theatre and puppet making. The camp also included sports and recreational activities through specialised educators, trainers and community workers, in order to help the children express themselves, and release stress resulting from the threat of forced displacement.
The Israeli practice of demolishing homes, basic infrastructure and sources of livelihoods, including those of Bedouin communities, is devastating Palestinian families and communities in East Jerusalem and the 60 per cent of the West Bank controlled by Israel, known as Area C.
So far in 2011, more than half – 810 – of those affected by displacements were children. In 2010, more than 10 per cent of people displaced by demolitions in East Jerusalem and Area C were refugees registered with UNRWA. UNRWA seeks to protect refugees and monitors violations of international law and advocates for the protection of Palestine refugees’ rights. The Agency also provides emergency assistance to victims of house demolitions, evictions, and refugees whose property is damaged as a result of conflict.
To support these communities, the Agency, in collaboration with the European Commission’s humanitarian aid department, ECHO, organised two summer camps in Wadi Abu Hindi and Khan Al Ahmar, in which more than 120 children participated.
The closing ceremony was attended by David Hutton, acting deputy director of operations, representatives from the Italian Cooperation, the French Cooperation, Vento di Terra and others.
For more information, please call:
Ilona Kassissieh
Public Information Officer
Orange: 054 216 8717
Office: 02 589 0408
InterTech 
