Published : 28-06-2018
In Lebanon, a number of Palestinian teachers who left Syria for Lebanon demanded that UNRWA head off their demand to return to Syria to attend their schools there, or to work on the daycare system or to submit their resignation requests. They also appealed to UNRWA to accept the extension of their work in Lebanon, pending the stabilization of the security conditions in Syria for good, so that they can return to their camps and homes that they fled, for the fear of their lives and the lives of their children.
On their part, a number of teachers, especially the youth, objected to this decision, which subjects some of them to arrest and detention by the Syrian regime, demanding that UNRWA guarantees their legal protection and that they do not get subjected to harm and detention. They noted that UNRWA had granted them until 28 June to return to Syria and prove their presence there and start working, or to stay in Lebanon and work as freelancers, in the event of a vacancy, meaning that UNRWA could dispense them at any time, or to resign, however this would affect a large number of Palestinian-Syrian teachers, where their resignation would be tantamount to early retirement, depriving them of entitlements and end-of-service benefits.
On its part, UNRWA’s presidency in Damascus had earlier granted Palestinian teachers who left Syria to Lebanon until the end of 2017 to attend their schools. However, after a meeting with the teachers, it responded to their requests and postponed the decision until further notice, taking into account the continuation of the conflict in Syria and the deterioration of the security conditions there.
In Lebanon, a number of Palestinian teachers who left Syria for Lebanon demanded that UNRWA head off their demand to return to Syria to attend their schools there, or to work on the daycare system or to submit their resignation requests. They also appealed to UNRWA to accept the extension of their work in Lebanon, pending the stabilization of the security conditions in Syria for good, so that they can return to their camps and homes that they fled, for the fear of their lives and the lives of their children.
On their part, a number of teachers, especially the youth, objected to this decision, which subjects some of them to arrest and detention by the Syrian regime, demanding that UNRWA guarantees their legal protection and that they do not get subjected to harm and detention. They noted that UNRWA had granted them until 28 June to return to Syria and prove their presence there and start working, or to stay in Lebanon and work as freelancers, in the event of a vacancy, meaning that UNRWA could dispense them at any time, or to resign, however this would affect a large number of Palestinian-Syrian teachers, where their resignation would be tantamount to early retirement, depriving them of entitlements and end-of-service benefits.
On its part, UNRWA’s presidency in Damascus had earlier granted Palestinian teachers who left Syria to Lebanon until the end of 2017 to attend their schools. However, after a meeting with the teachers, it responded to their requests and postponed the decision until further notice, taking into account the continuation of the conflict in Syria and the deterioration of the security conditions there.
