Date:22/11/2020
The UNRWA Advisory Committee begins its meetings tomorrow.
Dr. Abu Houli: Arab countries hosting refugees at their coordination meeting categorically rejected UNRWA's use of fragmentation of their staff salaries
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At the meetings of the advisory committee, the representatives of the Arab host states categorically rejected UNRWA's use of the fragmentation of the salaries of its staff as a measure to deal with UNRWA's financial crisis, as this decision has negative implications for the lives of Palestine refugees, the work of UNRWA and the entire region .
At its virtual Zoom meeting, held this evening under the chairmanship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the presence of the host countries (Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon), as well as Egypt and the league of Arab states, the host countries expressed their hope that the meetings of the UNRWA Advisory Committee to be held tomorrow Monday will find alternatives to urgently secure 70 million dollars to cover the salaries of UNRWA staff, without prejudice to the services provided to refugees or to the salaries of staff standing in the front line in the face of the covid-19 .
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee member and head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Abu Houli, said in a press release today that the meeting of representatives of the Arab host countries confirmed the rejection of UNRWA's policy of reducing services as a measure to address its financial crisis .
"There is consensus among the Arab host countries to reject UNRWA's decision to split the salaries of its staff"
Dr.Abu Houli pointed out that the Arab host countries called on donor countries and Arab states to meet their financial obligations to UNRWA and demanded a practical translation of the statements of the secretary-general of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in which he said that he would continue to defend UNRWA until the funds he urgently needed ( 70 million dollars), which was stated by his spokesman, were reached by increasing the value of the United Nations financial contributions in support of the UNRWA budget .
The host countries were confirmed by Dr. Abu Houli stressed the need to prepare the UNRWA budget for the years 2021-2022 in harmony and partnership with host countries and based on the needs of refugees .
The meeting was attended by the delegation of the state of Palestine, headed by the member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the head of the Refugee Affairs Department, Dr. Ahmed Abu Houli, Director General of media and public relations Rami al-Madhoun and director of the department in Jordan Ahmed Ismail, attended by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Director General of Palestinian affairs at the Ministry of foreign affairs of Jordan, engineer Rafiq Khirfan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ambassador of Egypt in Jordan Sherif Kamel, the Syrian Republic, director general of the General Authority for Palestinian Arab refugees Ali Mustafa, Haider al-Jubouri
In the same context, Dr. Abu Houli ban the meetings of the UNRWA Advisory Committee will begin on Monday morning with the presence and participation of approximately 30 permanent members of the advisory committee, representatives of Arab states hosting Palestine refugees, donor countries to UNRWA, the European group and the league of Arab states.
He pointed out the advisory committee's meetings will continue for two days on the canfrance video feature to discuss various issues related to UNRWA's activities and programmes of work, the services it provides to Palestine Refugees, its fundraising strategy and its reform programme, in addition to the follow-up to the recommendations of the previous advisory committee, and the agency's response to them.
He added The meeting will address the challenges facing UNRWA's work, its financial situation, plans to deal with the difficulties of the accumulated fiscal deficit, which is estimated at115 million dollars, income projections, strategies and the search for solutions to fill the remaining fiscal gaps for 2020 in addition to planning the budget for 2021 .
The meeting will also discuss the risks to UNRWA operations and services provided to Palestine refugees due to the coronavirus and funding constraints, as well as UNRWA's preparations for the successful holding of the international conference to be held at the beginning of 2021, which will focus on a future vision and strategy to secure sustainable and predictable funding for UNRWA .