This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2023 shows a main clinic under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The UNRWA on Friday announced that it suspended all its services inside the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon to protest against the continued presence of armed groups in its facilities, including schools. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
BEIRUT, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on Friday announced that it suspended all its services inside the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon to protest against the continued presence of armed groups in its facilities, including schools.
"The agency does not tolerate any violation of the sanctity and neutrality of its facilities. It is unlikely that the schools in the camp will be ready to receive 3,200 children at the beginning of the next academic year, given the repeated violations, including those that occurred in the past, and the significant damage reported," UNRWA said in a statement released by the National News Agency.
The agency renewed its call to "the armed forces to immediately evacuate their facilities to ensure that urgent assistance is provided to Palestine refugees without any obstacles."
Clashes erupted in the Ain Al-Helweh refugee camp, Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp, between members of the Palestinian Fatah movement and Islamic activists on July 29. The clashes continued into August, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens of others, according to UNRWA.
On Thursday, Dorothee Klaus, director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, strongly condemned armed groups' occupation of its facilities and urged all relevant parties to vacate UNRWA premises immediately so that the agency can resume critical services and help Palestinian refugees. ■
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2023 shows a main clinic under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The UNRWA on Friday announced that it suspended all its services inside the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon to protest against the continued presence of armed groups in its facilities, including schools. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
This photo taken on Aug. 19, 2023 shows a main clinic under the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The UNRWA on Friday announced that it suspended all its services inside the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon to protest against the continued presence of armed groups in its facilities, including schools. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
