- Title: JORDAN-PROTEST/UNWRA Palestinians protest against UNWRA cuts in funding
- Date: 26th July 2015
- Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (SUNDAY 26 JULY, 2015) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERING UNWRA SIGN IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH PEOPLE GATHERING PEOPLE HOLDING A BANNER UNDER THE HEADLINE READING IN ARABIC 'Refugees' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF THE TEACHERS COUNCIL, SALAMEH DAADS, SAYING: "We warn UNRWA and the donating countries from the danger of postponing the academic ye
- Embargoed: 10th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jordan
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA9QXZ2O94XBOMSNQYL3DHU5M11
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds gathered outside the United Nations Relief and Work agency headquarters in Amman on Sunday (July 26) protesting against cuts in funding, that they say will impact Palestinian refugees Jordan.
More than two million Palestinian refugees live in Jordan, according to UNWRA. But the aid agency is facing financial difficulties, prompting them to scale back on some of their operations.
UNRWA's operational budget in the Middle East is about $680 million a year, and it is running a deficit of $101 million. The organization has cut international staff, frozen recruitment and is looking for other savings.
But people here say are the ones that will bear the brunt of the cuts, with some protesters saying access to education for refugee children will be denied.
"We warn UNRWA and the donating countries from the danger of postponing the academic year, which was announced by many officials. and we consider education as a red line that is not acceptable to be crossed and it is the currency of the Palestinian refugees. We hope that the donating countries and the management of the UNRWA to deal with this crisis with all the necessary strength and to keep providing Palestinian refugees in five countries with the best services,'' said Salameh Daads, Head of the Teacher's Council.
But an UNWRA spokesman said a decision regarding UNWRA schools in Jordan, has not yet been taken.
"We have not and we will not take a decision to delay or terminate the academic year for 500,000 students at 700 Palestinian schools. Until the last moment, we will do all the efforts and this meeting is one of the continuous parts in collecting resources and stressing on the importance of the donating countries to increase their donations. Until this moment, we have time and the opportunity to exert all these efforts and if all these efforts failed, there will be difficult decisions that might reach the academic year,'' he said.
According to the agency's website UNWRA will continue with its life-saving services until the end of the year. 'UNRWA's school system for half a million children across the Middle East in Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory and Syria are essential but some difficult decisions may be needed in coming weeks if the deficit is not filled,' according to information on its website.
UNWRA is trying to reduce costs where they can without 'reducing services to refugees'. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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