Warning Over UNRWA Weakening as 70 Staff Members Laid Off
A refugee expert has stated that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is currently facing one of the most complex and challenging phases of its operations, encountering widespread service reductions and staff layoffs.
Mahmoud Khalaf, former head of the Joint Refugee Committee, told Shehab News Agency that in recent years, hundreds of UNRWA employees have been dismissed from their duties. At the same time, the scope of the agency’s services and support programs has also been scaled back. According to him, the latest case involves the dismissal of 70 staff members, which has sparked widespread reactions among employees and Palestinian refugees.
Khalaf emphasized that this decision was made following pressure and demands from Israel regarding UNRWA’s staff and programs. He warned that continuing this trend raises concerns about a deliberate policy aimed at weakening this international agency and diminishing its historic role in supporting Palestinian refugees.
The expert believes that UNRWA is not merely a service provider but is also recognized as an international witness to the Palestinian refugee issue, with the responsibility of delivering essential services in education, health, and humanitarian aid sectors. He called for an immediate halt to what he described as “punitive actions” against UNRWA staff and urged the urgent reinforcement of the agency’s programs and services to address the needs of the refugees.
