An-Najah News - Philippe Lazzarini  the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency visited Aida and Dheisheh Palestine refugee camps in Bethlehem yesterday where he thanked the Agency’s frontline staff for their dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed students “back to learning.”

Lazzarini met with students who showed him the virus control measures implemented to protect the population and he said “It is very refreshing to be around students in UNRWA schools in Bethlehem,” while he was in the UNRWA Beit Jala Coeducational School near Aida refugee camp. 

“UNRWA was able to continue all its services during lockdowns and closure thanks to the commitment of every single staff member".

he added “It’s almost like a sign of steadfastness in this city that had high numbers of COVID-19 cases early in the pandemic.” 

Starting Sunday and continuing in the coming weeks, some 45,000 Palestine refugee students in the West Bank will have returned to learning after a six-month absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.