UNRWA condemns attack on World Record facility in Gaza

28 July 2011

Statement by UNRWA Spokesman, Chris Gunness

At ten minutes past midnight last night, ten men attacked and vandalised the
Summer Games facility in north-west Gaza where later today UNRWA will
attempt a world record for the largest number of children flying kites.

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.

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

Full details of the kite-flying World Record attempt can be found below.
Please note the event will take place at 1800.

- Ends -

Christopher Gunness

UNRWA Spokesperson

Gaza mobile: 0599 428 034

Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659

Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267

c.gunness@unrwa.org

Tiny Gazan “David” takes on the massive Chinese “Goliath”

UNRWA Summer Games kids take aim at China’s kite-flying Guinness World
Record

27 July 2011

Gaza

This week 15,000 children attending UNRWA Summer Games intend to crown a
golden season of three Guinness World Records by smashing a fourth, for the
largest number of people flying kites, currently held by China. The event
will take place at El-Waha (North) at 1800 on Thursday 28 July.

“Taking on the might of China is a daunting feat for the children of Gaza,”
said UNRWA acting director in Gaza, Christer Nordahl, “but they have done it
three times already this year and with one final enormous effort, I have no
doubt that the kids of Gaza will smash this record and achieve world record
glory for the fourth time.”

On 16 April, the Kite Association of Weifang Binhai Economic Technological
Development Area in Weifang City, Shandong Province, China broke the record
set last year by the children of Gaza during Summer Games, by flying
simultaneously, 10,465 kites. Not to be done down, the children of Gaza have
bounced back by announcing that they intend to outdo that record by more
than 4,500 kites.

“The stage is set for another dramatic piece of world record mega-theatre,”
said Chris Gunness, UNRWA spokesman, “and it will be nothing short of
miraculous to achieve this under the punishing, illegal blockade.
Three-quarters of a million children are being collectively punished and
there must be transparency and accountability to end this affront to our
humanity. The kites will provide another iconic reminder of the beauty and
potential of these children, despite the injustices they face.”

During this Summer Games season, the children of Gaza have smashed the world
records for the largest number of people flying parachutes from the ground,
the largest number of people dribbling footballs simultaneously and for
producing the world’s largest-ever handprint painting.

UNRWA Summer Games provides six weeks of recreational, sporting, cultural
and educational activities for a quarter of a million children. We are
grateful to the people of America, Australia, the European Union and
Finland, whose governments have supported the games with such generosity.

- ENDS –

Background information

UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East, provides assistance, protection and advocacy for some 4.9
million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the
occupied Palestinian territory, pending a solution to their plight. The
Agency’s services encompass education, health care, social safety-net, camp
infrastructure and improvement, community support, microfinance and
emergency response, including in times of armed conflict.

For daily updates of photos, videos and stories on UNRWA and the Summer
Games, see our website: http://www.unrwa.org/summergames or join us on
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/unrwa

For more information, filming opportunities and interview requests please
contact:

Christopher Gunness

UNRWA Spokesperson

Gaza mobile: 0599 428 034

Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659

Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267

c.gunness@unrwa.org

Adnan Abu Hasna

UNRWA Media Advisor, Gaza

Gaza Mobile: +97(0)59 942 8061

Office: +97(0)8 288 7531

a.abu-hasna@unrwa.org

Jamal H. Hamad

UNRWA Public Information Officer, Gaza

Mobile: 059 9416877

Office: 08 2887457 / 2887213

j.hamad@unrwa.org

Milina Shahin
UNRWA Public Information Officer, Gaza
Mobile: 0599 609 485
m.shahin2@unrwa.org