UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – A United Nations-sponsored summer camp in northern Gaza was attacked and vandalized on early Thursday, said UN Relief and Works Agency spokesman Christopher Gunness.
Gunness said ten men attacked and vandalized the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Summer Games facility in north-west Gaza where on Thursday thousands of Palestinian children would attempt to break a world record for the largest number of flying kites.
The attackers damaged a large billboard, burnt a United Nations flag and torched parts of the stage. None of the UN security personnel at the venue was harmed, the UN agency added.
“We condemn this attack, which is an attack on the children of Gaza as much as on the United Nations,” UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said. “We call on the authorities in Gaza to investigate and bring those responsible to account. We will repair and rebuild the damaged infrastructure and go ahead with the event as planned today.”
As part of this year’s Summer Games, more than 12,000 children attempted to smash the world record for kite flying. This came after they broke three world records in the past several weeks – the highest number flying parachutes from the ground, the largest number of people dribbling footballs and creating the largest ever hand painting.
This is the fifth year that UNRWA has organized the Summer Games which include sports, arts and other activities, to provide a recreational outlet for an estimated 250,000 children in Gaza. This year’s games coincide with the fifth year of the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
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