UN warns school may be delayed for Palestinian refugees
UNITED NATIONS - The UN agency for Palestinian refugees is warning that unless it receives $101 million by mid-August it may be forced to delay the start of the school year for 500,000 students.
In a report to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon circulated Tuesday, the agency known as UNRWA said with stringent austerity it should just be able to protect the most vulnerable refugees from extreme hardship and maintain public health and safety until the end of the year.
But UNRWA said without additional fund it may be forced to close 700 schools and eight vocational training centers across the Middle East.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it is imperative that UNRWA, which is assisting some 5 million Palestinian refugees, receive money to continue its education activities. He urged donors to provide $101 million.
