UNRWA defends Qalandia Training Center operations in East Jerusalem

UNRWA has rejected false information regarding its Qalandia Training Center in occupied East Jerusalem, asserting that the facility remains operational and continues to provide essential vocational training and education services. The agency emphasized that the center is “not an empty complex, nor are its doors closed,” and remains a vital component of its mission to support Palestinian refugees.

UNRWA stated that providing education is at the core of its mandate, noting that it provides basic education to approximately 48,000 children across the West Bank and vocational training to over 2,000 young men and women. The agency highlighted that the Qalandia center helps hundreds of youth annually acquire professional skills to enter the labor market and seek economic independence.

The agency reminded that as a UN member state, Israel is obligated to provide all necessary assistance to UNRWA in its operations within the occupied Palestinian territory, a point it noted was affirmed by the International Court of Justice in October 2025. UNRWA also expressed concern over previous forced closures of six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem in May 2025, which affected roughly 800 children.