Overnight attack vandalises UNRWA summer camp for children in Gaza

GAZA CITY - Ten men attacked and vandalised overnight a United Nations facility being used to stage summer camps for children in the Gaza Strip, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.

Chris Gunness, spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees, said the facility in northwest Gaza was attacked around midnight on Wednesday.

"The attackers damaged a large billboard, burnt a UN flag and torched part of the stage. None of the UN security personnel at the venue were harmed," Gunness said.

The attack came the day before children attending UNRWA summer camps will attempt to set a world record for the largest number of children flying kites at the site.

Gunness said the record attempt would go ahead despite the attack, and called on local authorities to investigate the vandalism.

"We condemn this attack, which is an attack on the children of Gaza as much as on the United Nations," he 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." more

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