Statement Attributable to UNRWA Spokesperson Chris Gunness
UNRWA: “No Plans to Close Gaza Headquarters”
Denies False Reports

26 May 2016

Several media outlets have reported that UNRWA intends to close its
headquarters in Gaza. These reports are false. UNRWA HQ Gaza is not
closing. The Agency affirms categorically that there are no plans to do so
and staff are not being let go.

UNRWA is fully committed to maintaining its presence in the Gaza Strip,
which represents the largest of UNRWA’s field operations and is vital to
serving and protecting the Palestine refugees, who make up two thirds of the
population of Gaza.

UNRWA continues to work closely with staff and their representatives in
order to ensure programmes and reforms are implemented for the benefit of
Palestine refugees. UNRWA’s staff are indispensable to our humanitarian
work and we continue to rely on them for the effective and efficient
delivery of services.

– Ends –
Background information

UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a
growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their
vulnerability and their deepening poverty. UNRWA is funded almost entirely
by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the
growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the
delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall,
projected for 2016 to stand at US$ 81 million. UNRWA emergency programmes
and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through
separate funding portals.

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949
and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million
registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in
Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full
human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their
plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social
services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance .

For more information, please contact:
Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org
Twitter: @ChrisGunness

Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org