UNRWA is deeply concerned by today’s Israeli Security Forces operation in Jenin camp in the north of the West Bank
Calls for immediate access of injured to medical care
EAST JERUSALEM,
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the West Bank is deeply concerned by the impact of the ongoing Israeli Security Forces (ISF) operation which commenced this morning in the densely populated Jenin refugee camp. This follows another operation in the camp on 19 June, that left four Palestinians killed and 91 others injured.
News coming from Jenin reported that a large number of Israeli Security Forces surrounded and entered Jenin camp for Palestine Refugees, which led to heavy armed clashes in the targeted area between Palestinian armed actors and the ISF.
The operation led to the deaths of eight Palestinians (among them five Palestine Refugees) and the wounding of 50, according to initial reports from the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health. In addition, extensive damage to the camp infrastructure was reported, including damage to its water network. Water and electricity services have been interrupted in large areas of the camp, leaving camp residents unable to move from their homes. Many are in urgent need of food, drinking water and milk powder for children.
UNRWA runs 10 installations, operated by 90 Agency staff members in Jenin camp. All UNRWA installations, including four schools and one health center, were unable to operate due to the heavy exchange of fire.
UNRWA cannot yet confirm if any of its installations were affected, nor can the Agency confirm the final number of casualties among Palestine Refugees in Jenin camp.
Urgent action is required to ensure those injured have access to medical care. UNRWA repeats its call to all parties to break this cycle of increasing violence, which dangerously fuels instability.
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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.
