Sources said that Commissioner General’s recent decision granting himself the powers to put any employee on unpaid leave; after opening the door for exceptional voluntary separation opportunity to the staff, and without appointing new employees for the vacant positions, violates the charter of the United Nations.

Palestine Economy Portal | Next Saturday is considered a watershed for both the UN Relief and Works Agency and its employees, as UNRWA waits for the response of the donor countries to its successive appeals to cover this year’s funding shortfall of 101 million US Dollars; “under the penalty of non-payment of staff salaries, postponement of the school year, and suspending the education program.”

“The education program at the Agency is considered to be the largest both in size and number, in terms of the number of its staff and the structuring of the salaries. 80% of the Agency's budget goes for staff salaries, 60% of which goes to the education staff."

Sources said the Commissioner-General's recent decision granting himself the powers to put any employee on unpaid leave; after opening the door for exceptional voluntary separation opportunity to the staff, and without appointing new employees for the vacant positions, violates the charter of the United Nations.

Unless funding is available by mid-August, 700 schools that offer education to about half a million Palestinian refugee students, in addition to eight training centers offering vocational training for about 7000 youths, will have to be shut down as the Agency cannot cover staff salaries or operating costs, said the Commissioner General; calling for emergency funding for this year’s budget.