‘Passport to Dignity’ May Expire Fast – Lack of Funds Means that the New School Term for Half a Million Palestinian Students Could Be Cut Short after One Month

For Palestinians an education is a passport to dignity. This is not a good outcome, but it’s the best possible outcome – Chris Gunness, UNRWA

Since then, UNRWA has mobilised $238 million of additional funding from around the globe, but the money received so far only covers the Agency’s services until the end of September. Another $217 million is still needed to ensure that the schools stay open until the end of the year.

Speaking to UN News on Thursday [16 August 2018], UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness said that, despite the shortfall, the Agency felt obliged to open the schools on time: “For Palestinians an education is a passport to dignity. This is not a good outcome, but it’s the best possible outcome because the alternative would have been terrible, particularly for the next generation of Palestine refugees,” he said.

“We are doing everything in our power to work with the donor community to ensure that we can implement and honour our historic mandate and mission,” added Gunness.

A meeting of UNRWA’s Advisory Commission in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday was called to discuss ways to secure the resources needed to keep the schools running.

Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner-General of the Agency, underlined the risks to regional stability posed by school closures and the importance of providing schooling for affected children, saying that “it is crucial to protect the fundamental right to education for Palestine refugee girls and boys, and the community’s unwavering attachment to learning and the development of skills.”

Krähenbühl called on Member States that have pledged funds, to transfer them as soon as possible, and for others to consider joining the effort to preserve UNRWA’s vital services to a very anxious Palestine Refugee community. (SOURCE: UN).

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2018 Human Wrongs Watch