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UNRWA staff to hold one-hour protest against US aid cut Thursday

By JT - Feb 06,2018 - Last updated at Feb 06,2018

AMMAN — UNRWA staff members will hold a one-hour solidarity protest against recent US decision to cut aid to the agency in their areas of operation including Jordan. 

The association of staff unions of UNRWA said Tuesday that the agency’s staff in is five areas of operation including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza Strip and the West Bank; will observe an hour of solidarity starting 10:00am Thursday.

“UNRWA is facing the severest financial crisis in its history and this has negative impact on refugees and staff,” the association said in a statement emailed to The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

The association said that the international community, the UN and the donor countries were fully responsible for securing the necessary finance for UNRWA to continue its role in providing services to the Palestinian refugees.

It underlined the significance for continued support to the agency to help provide relief aid to the Palestinian refugees.

The association stressed that political conflicts and international differences should not affect the agency whose mandate is to provide humanitarian services.

It also urged the US to honour its financial commitments to the agency.

Last week, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) launched an $800 million emergency appeal for Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory.

 

The agency made the emergency appeal as it faces a projected deficit of $200 million in its emergency budget for this year brought on by a cut in half of US aid to an organisation that serves 5.2 million Palestinian refugees.

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