The Group says staff sackings and service cuts threaten support for Palestinian refugees

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement has warned that recent decisions taken by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) could weaken the agency’s operations and eventually lead to its closure.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group said the measures being implemented by UNRWA show a troubling direction that could reduce the agency’s ability to serve Palestinian refugees.

Islamic Jihad said the decisions include the termination of about 622 staff members who were unable to work because they were outside the Gaza Strip during the war, as well as the dismissal of 20 employees at UNRWA’s headquarters in Amman.

The group also pointed to other actions it said affect refugees’ rights, especially cuts to health and education services and continued reductions in social support programmes.

According to the statement, these steps are the result of financial pressure linked to political agendas aimed at ending UNRWA’s role and weakening the Palestinian refugee issue.

Islamic Jihad urged UNRWA to reverse the decisions across all areas where it operates and to find other ways to deal with financial challenges without placing the burden on refugees.

The movement also called on Palestinians to peacefully reject the current policies, while stressing the need to protect UNRWA’s staff, property, and institutions and to oppose any attempt to replace or end the agency’s work.

Source: Yemen News Agency