The United Nations Relief and Work Agency reduces services
Palestine, Politics, 10/6/1997

Waves of anger erupted among the Palestinians in Jordan in protest to the decision of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to reduce its services for the Palestinians in all the Arab countries, especially in Jordan which hosts the biggest number of Palestinians.

Amman and the Palestinian camps surrounding it together with the camps in the other Jordanian cities witnessed waves of anger against the UNRWA's decision, which was felt to be an international declaration renouncing its responsibilities towards the Palestinians.

The UNRWA was founded in the aftermath of the 1948 war, through which the Palestinian people was forced to leave their land. Thus UNRWA's existence meant the right of the Palestinian people to return to their land.

The UNRWA headquarters in Amman, other UN offices and foreign embassies witnessed angry public gatherings expressing their criticism of the decision. The public, syndicates, and political parties in Jordan issued statements condemning the decision and accusing the agency of conspiring with the countries which stopped financing the UNRWA programs.

The statements said that reducing services aims to settle the refugees in diverse areas and to prevent them from returning to their homeland.

The refugees representatives sent letters to the UN secretary-general and US President Bill Clinton asking them to intervene and support the agency's role in this sensitive phase of Palestinian history and to implement UN resolution No. 194 regarding the refugees' rights to return to their homeland.

The refugees accused the agency of siding with Israel against the Palestinians. The Jordanian government denounced the agency's decision and declared that it will put more burdens on the government towards the Palestinian refugee camps on its land.

Jordan had earlier received a letter from the UNRWA informing it that it had to take measures due to its financial difficulties. These measures include a 15% decrease in its staff, imposing taxes, stopping paying for hospitalization, and stopping offering scholarships to talented students, who will now be required to pay some fees.

Previous Stories:
  Kofi Annan could open Beirut Escwa building   (10/2/1997)
  UNRWA will pay fees for Palestinian students   (9/12/1997)
  Palestinians list demands for United Nations   (9/9/1997)

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