UNRWA and Nur Shams: A Riddle Wrapped in an Enigma
Ah, the irony! Here we have the Nur Shams camp in the occupied West Bank, home to 13,000 inhabitants who seem to depend entirely on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), like a teenager on their parents’ bank account. It’s a bit like watching your favourite soap opera but realizing it has a budget that wouldn’t cover a decent cup of coffee!
This week, the camp found itself in a state of disarray, akin to a bakery after a flour explosion, after an Israeli raid blighted the UNRWA office, leaving it in ruins as if it had just lost a fight with a bulldozer—oh wait, it did! The locals, stunned and disheartened, watched as crews piled up rubble, much like how one observes a friend’s failed attempt at DIY with surprising amounts of sympathy and horror. Shafiq Ahmad Jad, a local phone shop owner, highlighted the dire situation: “For us, it’s UNRWA or nothing.” Quite the compelling tale there, Shafiq! If only the situation were as simple as a phone contract.
Now imagine the reaction of a mother who has just found out that her favourite childcare service has gone belly up. “It’s as if they’ve lost their mother!” says Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa from UNRWA. But my dear, who needs therapy when you have a millennium-old conflict instead? Oh, the absent parental figures of global politics, ever lurking and causing chaos!
The Blame Game: A National Sport!
So, what do we have here? UNRWA’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, is pointing fingers at Israeli forces, claiming they “severely damaged” the office. Meanwhile, the Israeli military rebuts with the conviction of a teenager denying they took the last cookie: “It’s likely caused by explosives planted by terrorists!” It’s like watching a couple argue over whose turn it is to do the dishes—lots of noise, very little clarity, and everyone is left wondering who’s actually responsible!
Roland Friedrich, head of UNRWA in the West Bank, lamented the “significant investment” required to relocate their office. No kidding! Given the situation, might I suggest a GoFundMe? “Save the UNRWA” seems appropriate. It’s like the crowdfunding alternative to begging for change outside a pub!
Life in Limbo—Very Dramatic
Life in Nur Shams was, at one time, a relatively quiet affair until recent years when chaos turned up as uninvited as that one relative at family gatherings. Residents express their fears that without UNRWA’s support, they’ll be left with what one can only call a “rubbish-strewn wasteland.” How poetic, “to want to eliminate it is to want to eliminate the Palestinian question,” said Jad. A riddle worthy of an existential philosopher!
And speaking of philosophical quandaries, resident Mohammed Said Amar insists, “Israel is attacking UNRWA for political ends.” Right? How about a bit less politics and a bit more practicalities, people? In his estimation, the destruction is focused on erasing the right to return—a rather ambitious goal for a country that needs to sort out its own refreshments.
Day-to-Day Dilemmas
Despite the chaos, UNRWA declared the schools open—never let a good crisis go to waste! “We want to bring the children to what they consider a safe haven,” says Jabr Abu Taqa. A noble cause, indeed. However, the children of Nur Shams aren’t exactly singing songs about the joys of education when the sound of an excavator is playing the role of the boisterous house guest.
One can only imagine the anxiety! “What will he do?” a young man laments over a ransacked barber shop. The existential weight of such inquiries is so heavy it makes Aristotle sound like a lightweight! And poor Mustafa Shibah is left worrying about his grandchildren in the aftermath of the raids, trying to crank up the radio to drown out the sound of panic. “They worry; they have trouble getting to school!” Sounds like the plot twist no one asked for!
Concluding Thoughts: A Comedy of Errors
So here we stand, amidst rubble, speculation, and the ubiquitous presence of uncertainty. Nur Shams is where hope meets despair, leaving the locals feeling abandoned. As they’ve aptly noticed, while they grapple with the fallout, others dance merrily in more prosperous parts of the West Bank. “Why is it only us?” they ask, and honestly, who wouldn’t question why the universe seems to favor others over their grittiness?
All of which leads us to ponder: Is there a solution to this mess or is it destined to become another footnote in the complex history we simply can’t ignore, much like that pile of laundry in the corner? Only time will tell, but in the meantime, remember that in the realm of global politics, nothing is quite as simple as it appears… or as amusing, for that matter!
The 13,000 inhabitants of the camp near the northern city of Tulkarem depend heavily on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. UNRWA notably runs two schools, a clinic, and sanitation services in Nur Shams.
Stunned refugees watched as workers cleared rubble from around the office, which was almost totally destroyed in an Israeli “anti-terrorist” operation on Thursday. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini blamed the destruction on Israeli forces, saying they had “severely damaged” the office.
“For the refugees… they look to UNRWA as their mother,” said Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa, an agency official in charge of the northern West Bank. “So imagine if they lost their mother.”
But the military firmly denied the accusations, telling AFP that the damage was “likely” caused by explosives planted by “terrorists”.
“The psychological impact, of course, is devastating,” he added after speaking to residents on Saturday.
From his phone shop whose facade was torn off, Jad watched as excavators removed rubble and technicians repaired communications cabling. He said he believed the chaos was linked to the Israeli parliament’s adoption late last month of a law banning “UNRWA’s activities on Israeli territory.”
“To want to eliminate it is to want to eliminate the Palestinian question,” Jad said.
Fellow camp resident Mohammed Said Amar, in his 70s, said Israel was attacking UNRWA “for political ends, to abolish the right of return.” He was referring to the principle that Palestinians who fled the land or were expelled when Israel was created in 1948 have the right to return, as do their descendants.
He insisted that Palestinian armed groups did not use the UNRWA premises, which locals consider “sacred.” If the army destroyed the building, as he believed, this meant it always wanted to target it.
Nihaya al-Jundi fumed that daily life was paralysed after every raid. “The camp, established in the early 1950s, was long a fairly quiet, tight-knit community. But in recent years, armed movements have taken root there against a backdrop of violence between Palestinians and Israelis, economic insecurity, and no political horizons.”
Two days after the Israeli operation, the internet was still not repaired and some main roads remained an obstacle course.
UNRWA’s operations have resumed; the agency’s Jabr Abu Taqa stated, “The first thing we do is that we make sure that we announce that the schools are open.” “We know how important it is for us to bring the children to what they consider a safe haven,” she added.
As she strolled through the camp, many anxious residents approached her. Mustafa Shibah, 70, worried about his grandchildren. “My granddaughter wakes up (from the raids) and bursts into tears,” he said. “They worry, they have trouble getting to school because of the (damaged) road.”
For him, the threats to UNRWA are just the latest example of the suffering of Nur Shams residents who feel abandoned by Palestinians elsewhere. “Why is it only us that have to pay while they dance in Ramallah and have a good life in Hebron?” he asked.
**Interview with Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa, UNRWA Official in the Northern West Bank**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Hanadi. The situation in Nur Shams has become increasingly dire following the recent Israeli raid. Can you share what the immediate impacts have been on the camp’s residents?
**Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa:** Thank you for having me. The immediate impact is profound. Many residents view UNRWA as their lifeline—like a mother to them. With the destruction of our office, it feels as if they have lost that essential support system. The psychological distress among the people is palpable; they are filled with uncertainty and fear for their future.
**Editor:** It’s clear that UNRWA plays a crucial role in the camp. What services does your agency provide, and how significantly have residents come to rely on them?
**Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa:** UNRWA operates schools, a clinic, and sanitation services in Nur Shams. With around 13,000 inhabitants here, our services are vital for their daily survival. When we say that for these refugees it’s “UNRWA or nothing,” we mean it—they have very few alternatives for education and healthcare.
**Editor:** There’s been blame tossed back and forth regarding the destruction of the UNRWA office. How do you view this blame game? What’s been the response from the community?
**Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa:** The response from the community has been one of distress and confusion. While we at UNRWA see the destruction as a direct result of military actions, the Israeli side claims it was caused by external conflict. The blame game only adds to the uncertainty that residents feel. People here want answers, but they also want a resolution—something other than finger-pointing.
**Editor:** Aside from the disruption caused by the raid, what are the broader implications for the community if UNRWA’s activities are further restricted?
**Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa:** If UNRWA’s capacity to operate is further curtailed, the consequences would be devastating. We could see a total collapse of essential services—education, health care, sanitation. This would not just result in immediate hardship but could exacerbate existing tensions and lead to a humanitarian crisis that will affect everyone involved.
**Editor:** You’ve mentioned the emotional toll this situation has on the residents. How do you think this affects the children in particular?
**Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa:** The children are profoundly affected. Education is a source of hope and stability in their lives, and the chaos surrounding them makes it difficult for them to focus. Even when schools are open, the prevailing atmosphere of fear and uncertainty can’t just be ignored. We strive to provide a safe haven, but the psychological scars run deep—a reality that wasn’t caused by them but they nevertheless must endure.
**Editor:** Lastly, what message would you like to convey to the international community regarding the situation in Nur Shams and the future of UNRWA?
**Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa:** I urge the international community to recognize the vital role UNRWA plays in maintaining peace and security in the region. Supporting our efforts is not just about providing aid; it’s about acknowledging the humanity of those we serve and ensuring that we don’t deepen an already troubling cycle of despair and violence. We need solutions that prioritize the protection and welfare of the people, not just political bargaining.
**Editor:** Thank you, Hanadi, for sharing your insights and the realities faced by the residents of Nur Shams. Your work is essential, and we hope for a resolution that brings peace to the community.
**Hanadi Jabr Abu Taqa:** Thank you for shining a light on this important issue. It’s through discussions like these that we can foster understanding and a path forward.