Hamas Calls On UNRWA To Reconsider Aid Reduction

Beirut, 3 Rabi’ul Akhir 1437/13 January 2015 (MINA) – Member of Hamas Movement’s political bureau Ezzat al-Resheq called Tuesday evening on UNRWA to reconsider its decision to reduce its health and relief services to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Resheq’s statement came shortly after a Palestinian refugee burned himself in protest against UNRWA aid reduction and after a Palestinian sick woman died without receiving any medical treatment, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quote by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

UNRWA’s “immoral and inhuman” decision to reduce its relief aid will only deepen the Palestinian refugees’ suffering in Lebanon, he said.

A state of anger prevailed on Monday and Tuesday throughout the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon after UNRWA refused to pay the hospital treatment charges for a Palestinian sick woman who died without receiving any medical treatment.

Hundreds of angry protesters closed UNRWA offices in a number of refugee camps, Palestinian sources said.

Hamas office in Lebanon earlier warned in this regard of the escalating tensions and the continued popular protests in the refugee camps, warning of the serious social and humanitarian consequences of UNRWA’s decision.

UNRWA had earlier decided to reduce its aid allocated for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The Palestinian refugee in Lebanon has now to pay 20 percent of hospitalization costs in government, NGO, and private hospitals.(T/P008/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)