The West Bank: UNRWA mourns death of staff member killed in West Bank

عربي

13 September 2024

Statement from Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank 

UNRWA mourns the death of a colleague killed overnight in El Far’a Camp, in the northern West Bank. Sufyan Jaber Abed Jawwad was shot and killed on the roof of his home by a sniper during an overnight Israeli military operation in the early morning of 12 September. Sufyan worked as a sanitation labourer in El Far’a Camp and is survived by his wife and five children.

This marks the first time an UNRWA staff member has been killed in the West Bank in more than ten years. It comes as the West Bank is experiencing unprecedented levels of violence, placing communities at risk.

The northern West Bank has experienced weeks of protracted Israeli military operations, with the refugee camps of El Far’a, Tulkarm, Nur Shams and Jenin especially affected.

Civilian infrastructure, including water and electricity networks, have been destroyed, with precarious access for communities to basic supplies.

UNRWA has been forced to suspend services to refugees because of the unacceptable risk to staff and beneficiaries during these operations.

The use of improvised explosive devices by Palestinian armed actors is of particular concern.

All civilians have to be protected during military operations & their safe access to basic services must be ensured.

On the week students were due to return to classrooms, 6,000 girls & boys attending UNRWA schools in the northern West Bank have had their education disrupted.