SEE-July25: Palestine refugee communities have been facing prominent and tough challenges over the past decades. The challenges became more complicated this year since US decided to reduce $300 million of UNRWA's funding, according to UNIC (United Nation Information Center in Cairo).
In a statement by UNRWA Spokesman, Sami Mshasha said, "the decision was described by Commissioner-General as an existential threat to UNRWA." The only solution left is facing the situation as one unit.
UNRWA could gain political and financial support around the world. " UNRWA raised US$ 238 million in new funding for Palestine refugees, and with the conclusion of the New York pledging conference on 25 June, the US$ 446 deficit was reduced to US$ 217 million From March to June alone." he said.
"We are still in crisis. Let no one claim otherwise. But we are also determined to maintain core services to the millions of Palestine refugees who rely on us in Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, and Syria, and preserve what we can of our emergency assistance.", Mshasha added.
Almost $100 million per year will no longer be available making the emergency assistance in Palestine under-funded.
UNRWA’s humanitarians are prioritizing refugees with the most critical needs. They attempt to provide the major programmes, including, education, food, jobs, and health. Such a limited number of personnel will be affected.
Sami Mshasha continued saying, "Food voucher activities will continue until the end of 2018, at which time households who have been assessed in the last two years as abject poor will also be transitioned to SSNP (Syrian Social Nationalist Party)."
Furthermore, UNRWA will protect as many jobs as possible, around 280 staff will be redeployed on full time basis in existing or revised functions and approximately 584 staff will be offered part time. Half a million students will start their new school year on time.
"Due to absence of emergency funding UNRWA will discontinue its Cash for Work activities effective July31,2018; however, refugees will have all the services needed. The Community Mental Health Programme (CMHP) will be discontinued effective 31 August 2018." Mashasha stated.
Working with selected communities alongside UN agencies is a potential option for UNRWA. It will be committed to helping and protecting to Palestine refugees.
The Commissioner-General said in a recent letter to UNRWA "Despite all the challenges it faces, the Agency “will prevail” and it will not weaken its “defense of the rights and dignity of Palestine refugees.”
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