Palestinian refugees in Gaza protest UN aid cuts

Hundreds of Palestinian refugees have held a demonstration in the besieged Gaza Strip against recent aid cuts by the UN relief agency, Press TV reports.

The protesters said the cuts by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have made life even harder for them in the coastal enclave, which is under an Israeli blockade, a Press TV correspondent reported on Sunday.

The demonstration was organized by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The protesters demanded UNRWA resume cash assistance and food coupons to thousands of refugees who were cut off by the aid agency.

The cuts have drawn angry reaction from Palestinian refugees in the blockaded territory.

“UNRWA is paying high salaries to its director and executives. It must give us our aid instead of paying high salaries to its executives,” a Palestinian complained.

“The Saudis who are sitting idle while we are suffering here should be ashamed of themselves. Shame on all the Arabs who remain silent while Palestinian refugees are living on handouts. We are only asking for what is rightfully ours, we are not begging from UNRWA,” a female refugee told Press TV.

About 70 percent of Gaza's more than 1.7 million population are refugees who have been displaced from the Palestine land in 1948. They depend on UNRWA for aid and other basic services. more

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