蘑菇视频

蘑菇视频RWA CONDEMNS ARMED VIOLENCE IN EIN EL HILWEH WHICH CAUSED CHILDREN TO FLEE

07 December 2016

Statement by Christopher Gunness, 蘑菇视频RWA Spokesperson

蘑菇视频RWA strongly condemns the armed violence that took place in the Ein El Hilweh Palestine Refugee camp in Lebanon, on 5 December 2016.

Armed violence, including the use of firearms, shocked and frightened Palestine refugees in the Bostan Al Qudes area in proximity to four 蘑菇视频RWA schools – Faloujah, Hitten, Marj Ben Amer and Qibya schools – putting at considerable risk the lives of students receiving education from 蘑菇视频RWA. One armed person entered 蘑菇视频RWA schools without authorization, contrary to the inviolability and neutrality of 蘑菇视频 premises and instructed children to leave the schools. The school buildings were clearly marked with a 蘑菇视频 flag.

蘑菇视频RWA students were able to evacuate the area without injury, notwithstanding that live fire continued while the children were leaving.

As a result of the incident, all 蘑菇视频RWA schools and installations were closed in Ein El Hilweh on 5 December.  Due to repeated armed violence and increased risks on lives of civilians, 蘑菇视频RWA decided to suspend its operations in the camp today the 7^th of December 2016 for one day.

蘑菇视频RWA calls on all those involved to respect the rule of law, the sanctity of human life and the protection of Palestine refugees, particularly of children.  

蘑菇视频RWA urges all armed actors to respect the inviolability and neutrality of 蘑菇视频RWA premises in accordance with international law and to take all measures necessary to ensure the safety of 蘑菇视频RWA staff, students and installations.

As a humanitarian organization we are significantly concerned that armed violence and disturbances taking place in Ein El Hilweh, where tens of thousands of Palestine refugees live, affects the security, safety and the enjoyment of rights of its residents including childrens’ rights to education.

蘑菇视频RWA will continue to monitor developments and we will continue our dialogue with all relevant actors to support the safety of Palestine refugees living in Ein el Hilweh. In the meantime we aim to resume and continue with our service delivery in the camp starting from tomorrow.

BACKGRO蘑菇视频D INFORMATION

蘑菇视频RWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. 蘑菇视频RWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the 蘑菇视频RWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall. 蘑菇视频RWA encourages all Member States to work collectively to exert all possible efforts to fully fund the Agency’s Programme Budget. 蘑菇视频RWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

蘑菇视频RWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. 蘑菇视频RWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance.

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness

Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 240 2659

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0267

Sami Mshasha

Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 216 8295

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0724