Gaza / PNN / 

Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department, Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, welcomed the decision of the Arab Workers Union in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the West Bank and Jerusalem to suspend the strike after it had been ongoing for 4 consecutive months. This decision marks the resumption of UNRWA's work and services within the camps.

Dr. Abu Holi emphasized, in a statement issued today (Thursday), the responsibility of the workers' union's decision to suspend the strike, given the difficult conditions experienced in the Palestinian camps.

Dr. Abu Holi stated that the suspension of the strike is the result of the efforts of the PLO's Executive Committee, the Refugee Affairs Department, the popular committees in the camps, and the Executive Office of the Committees. He also confirmed that the PLO will continue its communications with UNRWA's leadership, represented by its Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, to follow up on the implementation of the agreed-upon achievements of the legitimate demands of the workers and to work with the Arab host countries to mobilize funding to bridge the significant financial deficit in UNRWA's budget and enable it to provide its services without reducing support for Palestinian refugees, as authorized by Resolution 302.

He further explained that the Refugee Affairs Department will initiate communications with the members of UNRWA's Advisory Committee during their meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, June 20, 2023, to develop a salary policy into an effective and flexible financial system linked to the cost of living index in the host country.

Dr. Abu Holi stressed the necessity of resolving all outstanding issues through dialogue, and efforts will be focused in the coming days to swiftly implement the agreement that has been reached.

He called upon all refugees and community institutions to unite in restoring life to its normal state in the camps.

Earlier, the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization expressed its appreciation for the decision of the National Union and its responsible parties to suspend the strike and resume work immediately. This decision aims to improve the conditions in the camps and compensate for the missed educational opportunities for students in UNRWA schools due to the strike, as well as to resume health and social services and others.

The Executive Committee, in a statement issued today (Thursday), affirmed that it will follow up on the implementation of the agreements reached with UNRWA, the Arab Workers Union, the Refugee Affairs Department of the organization, and the Executive Office of Refugees and Popular Committees in the camps. It will also continue its communications with the United Nations and UNRWA to meet the demands of the union and develop the agency's work in accordance with its founding Resolution 302. The committee further called upon donor countries to provide support to cover the financial deficit currently faced by UNRWA.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today resumed its service delivery to Palestine Refugees in the West Bank, after nearly four months of disruption due to a work dispute with the West Bank Staff Union and a strike.

“We are relieved that UNRWA is now able to restart providing services to the refugee communities across the West Bank. Palestine Refugees have been severely impacted by the strike, which started on 4 March,” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General.

As of this morning, UNRWA teams across the West Bank are preparing all Agency facilities and installations to go back to normal as early as possible next week.  With education and health services as a priority, efforts include cleaning and disposing of solid waste, maintenance of the Agency’s buildings to receive staff and refugees, putting in place security measures and pre-positioning of supplies including medicines and sanitation material. As soon as the preparations are complete, UNRWA facilities will be open for services, some as soon as tomorrow.

“Our top priority right now is to reopen 90 UNRWA schools, so that more than 40,000 children who were on the verge of losing a whole school year and are at a risk of dropping out, will be able to catch up on education losses and move to the next levels,” he added.

The resumption of services comes following lengthy discussions with several parties over the past months.

“I would like to pay tribute to all those who helped and supported us reach a resolution of the disruptive situation. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional contribution of the UNRWA West Bank team led by Adam Bouloukos, the Director of UNRWA West Bank Affairs, Palestinian staff who did not go on strike and international staff who helped manage the crisis. My colleagues showed extraordinary commitment to UNRWA and to Palestine Refugees throughout the strike. I would also like to thank the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, whose positive role came from the highest levels, His Excellency President Abbas who personally intervened at key moments,” the Commissioner-General added.

The Arab Workers Union in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the West Bank and Jerusalem decided to suspend the strike after it had been ongoing for 4 consecutive months.

Based on the decision of the Arab Workers Union in UNRWA in the West Bank and Jerusalem to suspend the strike after 4 months of continuous action, and the continuous meetings held with the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, his team, the union, and the popular committees in the camps, PLO  Executive Committee, and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department at PLO that called for the necessary respond by UNRWA to the fair and legitimate demands of the Arab employees union.