IN PICTURES: Displaced Palestinians living in uncertainty in schools
Published date: 6 March 2015 03:36 GMT
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Last update: 9 years 8 months ago
The Beit Hanoun Boys Preparatory School A has been turned into one of the 15 UNWRA-run ‘community centers’ to shelter some displaced Palestinians who lost their homes during the last Israeli offensive (MEE/Anne Paq)
The schools are not designed to accommodate people for a long time, especially during harsh winter conditions. Additional blankets were distributed but few families have heaters (MEE/Anne Paq)
The burned room where 16-month-old Ezzedin Jad al-Kafarneh died following a fire on 16 February (MEE/Anne Paq)
Nehad al-Masri with her 8 children and husband: “We left our home running. With the baby here it is very difficult. We are cold; and the electricity often cuts. We do not have enough food for the whole family, or clothes.” (MEE/Anne Paq)
Around 10,000 displaced Palestinians stay in the UNRWA-run community centres (MEE/Anne Paq)
Women prepare a meal after receiving the daily food distribution. Warm meals are provided at least once every three days (MEE/Anne Paq)
Many families cannot afford to buy extra furniture such as dressers to store their clothes (MEE/Anne Paq)
There can be up to two families in each room (MEE/Anne Paq)
When asked how long they might stay in the school, most people could not answer. That uncertainty leaves many in psychological distress (MEE/Anne Paq)
The lack of privacy seems to be one of the most difficult issues for families after many months, especially for women (MEE/Anne Paq)
Ali al-Masri, 16: “I feel like in a prison. Before we had a big house, with space, but it was totally destroyed”. Ali has to walk three kilometres to go to school. He does not have special clothes for the rain (MEE/Anne Paq)
A child studies in his room in one of the schools of the al-Bureij refugee camp, which also is used as shelter for displaced refugees (MEE/Anne Paq)
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