Some 13,000 staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency took part Wednesday in a protest against the policies of the UN agency’s administration, which is reducing services to refugees in the Gaza Strip since the announcement of a US aid cut to UNRWA.
Demonstrators raised banners rejecting any compromise on the rights of employees and refugees and demanding a decent life. They also described aid cuts and separation of staff as a “crime” and a “war” against the refugees. They called on the organization to implement the relevant international resolutions without waiving the right of return.
The head of the UNRWA staff union, Amir al-Mashal, gave a speech during the march, which was launched after the suspension of classes in UNRWA schools, and headed from the headquarters of the United Nations to Ansar Square, west of Gaza.
He stressed that the situation was due to a political crisis with a clear agenda by some parties, not a financial crisis as promoted.
He explained that the staff had gathered to reject all the obstacles by the administration of the agency and those behind it, stressing that the UNRWA crisis was not financial, but was rather subject to political agendas.
Mashal called on the Commissioner-General of UNRWA to stand up for his responsibilities and intervene quickly, reiterating his demand for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to interfere immediately and urgently, to resolve the crisis.
