The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced on Thursday that it would suspend all its services, including schools, inside the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in south Lebanon in protest over the continued activities of militants.

“This is a grave violation of the inviolability of UN premises under international law, which compromises the neutrality of UNRWA installations and undermines the safety and security of our staff and Palestine Refugees," a statement by the agency said. 

They added that their schools in the camp serve around 3,200 children – and that fighting in the camps had caused damage to the buildings and thrown the readiness for the upcoming academic year into doubt. 

UNRWA again called on the armed forces to "immediately vacate its premises so that the Agency can restore critical services and the delivery of assistance to Palestine Refugees in need.”

Over a dozen Palestinians were killed in factional infighting in the refugee camp earlier this month.