UNRWA suspends health, educational services over Gaza bombing

CAIRO – 22 October 2023: UNRWA director in the West Bank Adam Bouloukos said the agency was forced to suspend services including schools, health and solid waste collection, as a result of continued Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip.

At least 13 Palestinians were reported killed, including five children, in an Israeli Security Forces’ operation that included airstrikes over the Nur Shams refugee camp.

“Initial assessments indicate that nearly 50 homes were damaged, some severely, while roads, electricity, water, internet and sewage networks in the camp were impacted.

“These latest events are emblematic of the continued escalation risking the lives of Palestine Refugees in camps across the West Bank. This recent operation is the largest since Jenin in July this year.  

“This year already recorded over 270 Palestinians killed in the West Bank, 20 per cent of whom were children, and over half of whom were refugees. This figure represents the highest number killed in a single year since we routinely started collecting the data in 2012. 

“These latest events in Nur Shams camp are likely to further inflame already heightened tensions given the conflict in Gaza. At least 82 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank alone only since October 7”.