Palestine National Council (PNC) called on the parliaments and federations of the world to support the (UNRWA) Agency, to overcome its
unprecedented financial crisis in its history over the past 70 years.
In identical messages sent by the PNC Speaker, Mr. Saleem Al-Za’anoon, in cooperation with the Refugee Affairs Department of the PLO, to the
heads of unions and parliamentary assemblies in the world, and to a number of heads of parliaments all over the world, clarified that this
stifling financial crisis directly affected UNRWA educational, health and relief services provided to Palestinian refugees, in the areas of
UNRWA operations in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, where Palestinian refugees live in difficult living conditions.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the severity of this crisis has exacerbated, Mr. Al-Za’anoon added, and increased in poverty and
unemployment, and UNRWA has even become threatened with cessation, as these difficult conditions call for greater capabilities to meet the
increasing needs of refugees during this pandemic.
The risk of the financial crisis has extended to the salaries of UNRWA employees, which are estimated at 30 thousand employees, Mr. Al-Za’anoon
continued clarifications, UNRWA is unable to pay the salaries of its employees for the month of December 2020, due to lack of cash, in
addition to the transfer of a financial deficit of more than USD 85 million to the year 2021, in case that UNRWA will not receive additional
funding, which will lead UNRWA again to the same crisis, and will lead the region into uncertainty and instability.
We, in PNC, look to you to address the member states to pressure their governments and urge them to support UNRWA financially, or to provide
additional funding that contributes to saving USD 85 million, to enable UNRWA to pay the salaries of its employees for the month of December and
to overcome its financial crisis, Mr. Al-Za’anoon, UNRWA should be enabled to continue providing its vital and necessary services to
refugees, according to the mandate granted to it by Resolution 302, and to limit the transfer of deficit to the next year, which will result in
increasing the burden of UNRWA financial budget 2021.
He stressed that continuing commitment to support UNRWA contributes to the security and stability of the refugee camps and the region, prevents
the collapse of UNRWA, and at the same time it is a source of hope for millions of Palestinian refugees who are looking to you to support their
just cause to return to their homes in accordance with Resolution 194 .