For years, the United Nations has discriminated against the #UNRWA Palestinian local staff by excluding them from coverage under two key UN policies that apply to ALL United Nations staff in times of war.
UNRWA Palestinian local staff have been systematically excluded from the coverage under these two policies and discriminated against due to cost implications and because of their Palestinian identity.
The UN Inter-Agency Security Management Network made significant policy-related decisions and updates regarding the security of locally recruited personnel in June 2018. Furthermore, it was requested that the Designated Official at every duty station convey the policies of the UN Security Manual to all locally recruited personnel and their eligible family members.
UNRWA Palestinian local staff were not informed about the policies, resulting in them being left without vital information about their safety and protection.
The Malicious Acts Insurance Policy (MAIP) provides compensation for deaths and partial or permanent disabilities caused by acts of war and hostilities. The Palestinian local staff of UNRWA in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon are eligible for such coverage, but they have been systematically excluded from MAIP coverage.
These two policies apply to all UN locally recruited staff worldwide, except for the local staff of UNRWA in Palestine.
This week, Mr. Martin Griffiths, the OCHA Coordinator, initiated the Emergency Appeal for Gaza and appealed to member states to fulfill their obligations of USD 1.2 billion. Around 250 million dollars have already been allocated. The Emergency Appeal is expected to raise the required funds, which will likely compensate the guilt of the member states who were silent during this genocide.
Holding a minute of silence and lowering the flags is a welcome gesture, but it’s insufficient.
I ask the Secretary-General to fulfill his moral obligations and duty of care towards the 103 UNRWA colleagues who lost their lives in the service of the United Nations.
The 103 UNRWA staff killed by Israel have been enduring atrocities and suffering for decades in Gaza and despite this, they have continued to serve the United Nations with dedication, loyalty and persistence.
The UN is considering giving each bereaved family a meager $3000 USD.
Under the MAIP coverage, the families of the 103 staff killed would have been entitled to receive approximately 12 million USD, with each family receiving approximately 120,000 USD individually.
Nevertheless, the UN is suggesting that they receive $3000.
The UNRWA Palestinian local staff are being discriminated against. The MAIP covers all local staff worldwide.
The United Nations must ensure that rules and regulations are consistently applied to all staff members, regardless of their category or nationality.
It is the responsibility of the United Nations to fulfill its obligations to the families of UN staff and compensate them promptly.
Anything else constitutes discrimination.
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