UN agency for Palestine refugees announces staff reductions amid funding shortfall

29 June 2015 – The United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees across the Middle East announced today that it will begin reducing staff numbers in an effort to cut costs amid a wider budget shortfall facing the Organization's presence in the region.

In a statement issued earlier today, Chris Gunness, spokesperson for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), confirmed that 85 per cent of all 137 international personnel on short term contracts will be separated in a phased process lasting until the end of September.

“UNRWA is taking this measure to reduce costs as much as possible without reducing services to refugees,” explained Mr. Gunness, noting that the UN agency retained a $101 million deficit but would continue nonetheless with “robust efforts in resource mobilisation.”

“As things currently stand, with stringent austerity measures already in place beyond today's announcement, the Agency should be able to continue with life-saving services to the end of the year,” he continued.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51281#.VZHZiOuprzI