UNRWA Will Continue to Provide Services in Occupied Jerusalem

UNRWA has been helping Palestinian refugees since May 1, 1950. (Photo: via Facebook)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) dismissed, on Thursday, threats by the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, to close down its operations in occupied East Jerusalem.

In early October, Nir Barkat announced that he plans to remove the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from occupied East Jerusalem, which he accused of “operating illegally and promoting incitement against Israel.”

Barkat also said that schools, clinics, and sports centers, among other services operated by the UNRWA in East Jerusalem, will be transferred to the Israeli authorities.

UNRWA spokesperson, Sami Mshasha, said that,

“While these threats are worrying, they will not change facts on the ground since UNRWA exists based on international resolutions and binding bilateral agreements.”

Mshasha added that,

“UNRWA is going to continue with its mandate in East Jerusalem and anywhere else where it operates and will provide these services to Palestinian refugees in East Jerusalem regardless of Barkat’s threats.”

He added that the threats are nothing new to the agency.

UNRWA currently provides services to some 5 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territories, and the besieged Gaza Strip.

(Ma’an, PC, Social Media)

(The Palestine Chronicle is a registered 501(c)3 organization, thus, all donations are tax deductible.)
Our Vision For Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders & Intellectuals Speak Out