JERUSALEM, Wednesday, April 15, 2020 (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities are impeding efforts by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease in occupied Jerusalem and its refugee camps, today said UNRWA spokesman Sami Mshasha.

He told WAFA in a telephone interview that this restriction is a continuation of Israel’s two-year old restrictions imposed on UNRWA activities in the occupied city following the US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel and moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

He said Israel launched a campaign to prevent provision of health services by UNRWA and the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Jerusalem’s old city and its neighborhoods and refugee camps.

Mshasha pointed out that there is difficulty in entering and leaving the refugee camps, especially Shufat camp, in light of the efforts to fight coronavirus, which affects the economic conditions of Jerusalem residents and those who do not fully benefit from UNRWA services as a result of the measures implemented by the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem, in addition to the ongoing detentions, incursions and restrictions on movement.

UNRWA, with a UN mandate, is responsible for providing health, educational and social services to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in the occupied territories, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

T.R./M.K.