Israeli op. hinders UN agency aid work, Palestine

UN agency aiding Palestinians says Israeli operation hinders its work

The main United Nations agency helping Palestinian refugees reported today that an Israeli operation in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank town of Nablus has been hampering its work since early yesterday.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported that Israeli forces moved yesterday morning to occupy two schools it runs in the camp. The Israelis continued to occupy the boys’ school after leaving the girls’ school today, UNRWA reported.

At the same time, agency officials reported that the Israeli forces continue to block a health clinic, which prevents patients or staff from leaving the building.

Created in 1950, Balata is the largest West Bank camp with a registered refugee population of about 21,000. In early 1994, the Refugee Committee to Defend Refugee Rights was established in Balata, which lies within the municipal boundaries of Nablus.

UNRWA was created by a 1949 UN General Assembly resolution to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees after the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.

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