PAL/1882

COMMISSIONER-GENERAL OF UN RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY VISITS FAMILY OF MOHAMMED AL-DURRAH, EXPRESSES SORROW AT YOUTH’S DEATH

GAZA STRIP, 4 October (UNRWA) -- Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), today paid his condolences to the family of Mohammed Al-Durrah, the young boy who was killed during the clashes at Netsarim junction on Saturday.

Mr. Hansen visited the family at their home in Bureij refugee camp and expressed his sorrow at Mohammed's death. Mr. Hansen also met with Mohammed's grandparents, brothers and sisters and neighbours and promised that UNRWA would provide assistance to enable two of the children and other family members to go to Amman to visit the father, Jamal Al-Durrah, who is currently in a hospital there. The Al-Durrah family are registered with UNRWA's special hardship case programme.

Earlier today, Mr. Hansen and Lionel Brisson, Director of UNRWA Operations in Gaza, visited a number of injured children and youth in Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Accompanied by representatives from the Palestine Authority Ministry of Health and hospital staff, Mr. Hansen was briefed on the seriousness of the injuries, and he expressed his hope that the violence would soon end.

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United Nations