UNRWA employees in Gaza protest against US fund cuts

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Over 13,000 employees of the UN refugee agency UNRWA staged a mass rally in the Gaza Strip on Monday, to protest a recent US fund cut.

The protesters gathered outside the UN headquarters in western Gaza City, appealing to world leaders to maintain the rights of the Palestinian refugees and to halt President Donald Trump’s political blackmail against the Palestinians.

In a brief speech at the rally, UNRWA’s Operations Chief in Gaza Mattias Schmale, urged the United States to protect the rights of the UNRWA employees, and not to politicize the aid it provides to the UN agency.

Thousands of UNRWA Employees in Gaza Protest against Recent US fund cuts, and raise the banners condemning US policy. /CGTN Photos

Shmale confirmed also that UNRWA's continued existence is directly linked to the realization of a permanent resolution to the Palestine refugee issue.

A general strike prevailed also on Monday in all UNRWA’s facilities in the blockaded territory including schools and medical centers.

Head of UNRWA services in Gaza Amir Al-Misshal said that Monday’s march voiced Palestinian anger against the recent US fund cuts to UNRWA, and attempts of preventing the UN agency from providing its basic services to the Palestinian refugees.

"The US fund cuts to UNRWA threatens providing the Palestinian refugees with the basic services they need such as health, and education, and endangers their lives everywhere," Al-Mishal said.

CGTN Photo

The official explained that plans under way to gradually shut down UNRWA will abort definitely, just like similar plans did 70 years ago. "No such plans will pass, no matter what the challenges and the consequences are," Mishal said.

On January 22, UNRWA launched the "dignity is priceless" global fund raising campaign, to help face its financial deficit, following a dramatic US fund reduction by more than half.

A statement issued by Palestine’s NGO’s Network last week, said that the US punitive measures against the Palestinian people including large cuts in payment to UNRWA, aim to prevent the UN agency from providing its basic relief services to the Palestinian refugees.

CGTN Photo

Pulling back $65 million in aid to UNRWA, endangers the future of around 525,000 Palestinian students attending UNRWA schools in the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.