The Workers' Union of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) called for staging a protest on Thursday in front of the organization’s headquarters in Gaza.
The protests were held to reject the cuts initiated by UNRWA in Gaza, West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
Members of the Parent’s Council were among the participants in the demonstrations. They waved banners calling on the UNRWA administration to shoulder its responsibilities towards the refugees.
Secretary of the Workers’ Union Yusuf Hamdouna warned UNRWA’s administration against the continued cuts, pointing out that any step in this regard would lead to escalating measures.
He told protesters that the union will organize an open sit-in inside the headquarters of the UN agency next week, in which 956 employees will participate, to protest any cuts in services.
He said that these employees currently work on the emergency program, and their contracts will end gradually.
On the other hand, director of operations at UNRWA stressed that in case the fiscal deficit in the budget continues, the academic year will not start.
He explained that the postponement of the date means the placement of 22,000 teachers on compulsory leave, and therefore, nearly 500,000 Palestinian students will not receive education in the UN organization’s five areas of operation.
"This is the beginning of sit-ins and protests that will be witnessed in the coming period," he said.
He also called on the presidency of UNRWA to commit to backing down from three decisions taken recently in order to stop the protests that are scheduled to be held.
For his part, head of the executive bureau of popular committees in Gaza Khaled al-Sarraj said that UNRWA's actions against the refugees will only be met with further escalation, accusing the agency of coordinating with the occupation forces to exert more pressure on Palestinian refugees.
