Protest in Hussein Camp against cutting UNRWA aid

Jordan

Published: 2018-02-18 19:47

Last Updated: 2024-03-18 15:47


One of the Palestinian Refugees Camps in Jordan. (UNRWA)
One of the Palestinian Refugees Camps in Jordan. (UNRWA)

The High Committee for the Defence of the Right of Return, Jordan and Al Hussein Camp Higher Committee have organized a protest to object the decision of the US administration to cut aid for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees.

The Sunday protest took place in front of UNRWA offices in Jabal An-Nuzha in northern Amman.

In January, UNRWA Jordan announced that they will lay off 100 employees in an attempt to cut costs. This will result in a decrease of the services provided to Palestinian refugees.

Protestors called on the international community to provide the needed assistance to UNRWA in accordance to international obligations and prevent the US from supporting the Israeli occupation.

The protesters reproached the decision as an act of political and economic war against Palestinian refugees. The cut in aid predisposes for the increase in tension between Palestinians and Arab host countries.

Tensions between the US and the Palestinian Authority have been on the rise since December, when Trump decided to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

At the end of January, 13,000 UNRWA workers in Gaza went on strike, closing schools, clinics and food distribution centres as response to the US withholding $65 million of the $125 million instalment for unspecified reasons.
The US is the largest donor to UNRWA and the cut in aid will negatively impact people’s living conditions.