UNRWA launches early retirement scheme to ease financial crisis

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced on Thursday that it will apply the Early Voluntary Retirement initiative, which allows employees who meet the requirements to volunteer to leave the service of the agency before reaching retirement age.

This initiative is part of a series of measures aimed at reducing internal costs. At the same time it guarantees the provision of good service to Palestine refugees. UNRWA confirmed its full commitment to provide its main services for the time being, although the available funding is only enough until September.

The financial crisis currently plaguing the agency is the worst in its 65-year history. It is currently suffering from a $101 million deficit in its main budget, which provides basic services including education, relief, social services and health for the estimated five million Palestine refugees who are registered with UNRWA in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.