RAMALLAH
Around 40 Palestinian policemen were wounded on Sunday in clashes with refugees who blocked roads leading to the West Bank city of Ramallah to protest lack of services in Jalazone refugee camp.
Spokesman Gen. Adnan Al-Damiri said Palestinian security forces tried to reopen the streets, leading to clashes with the refugees.
Earlier today, scores of Palestinian youths blocked the road connecting Ramallah and Nablus, which is adjacent to Jalazone refugee camp, to protest disruption of services provided by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
The services were suspended amid an ongoing strike by UNRWA personnel.
The UN agency, for its part, said it had to reduce the services which were provided to the Palestinian refugee camps, due to financial deficit.
The protesters called on the Palestinian Authority and the UNRWA to work towards ending the strike and addressing the demands of the striking personnel.
The striking employees demand UNRWA to apply annual increase to their salaries and stop a series of cuts that led to the dismissal of dozens of their colleagues and the cancelation of several vital programs.
UNRWA provides food, education, sanitation and – in some cases - fiscal assistance to some 5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and Arab countries, such as Syria and Lebanon.
Adnan Abu Hassna, spokesman for the UNRWA, has earlier told Anadolu Agency that UNRWA deficit stands at $65 million.
He noted that the UN agency dedicates a great share of its money and efforts to help Palestinian refugees in Syria, especially in Yarmouk refugee camp, where many people have died of hunger due to a siege on the camp.
by Anees Barghouthy
englishnews@aa.com.tr
