From escaping war to losing work: UNRWA's Palestinian employees from Gaza face dismissal while living in exile

Dozens of Palestinian employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) who left Gaza during the latest conflict now face a new struggle: the sudden loss of their jobs while living in exile.

Many of them travelled abroad for medical treatment or to protect their families from the war, only to receive termination notices or emails detailing their financial settlements in recent months.

Ahmed, a mathematics teacher from Gaza City, arrived in Cairo in early 2024 after being seriously injured in an Israeli airstrike that destroyed his home in the al-Tuffah neighbourhood.

The attack left him with a partially amputated leg, and he came to Egypt seeking prosthetic treatment and rehabilitation.

"I thought I would continue my work once my treatment stabilised, but then I received a short email informing me that my contract had ended. I still cannot understand how, after all these years of service, I could be dismissed like this," he told The New Arab.

Samar, an Arabic-language teacher from northern Gaza, fled with her two children for safety. The 52-year-old mother of four continued teaching remotely while living in a small flat in Cairo's Nasr City district, believing she remained an active employee.

Later, she was notified that her employment had ended. "We left because of the war and for our children's safety," she told TNA.

"Now, without work, we face high living costs, no legal way to earn income, and limited support from relatives or charities. My children cannot even attend local schools because of the expenses," she said.

Mohammed, a 41-year-old UNRWA logistics worker, travelled to Egypt for spinal surgery after being injured by shrapnel.

"I was preparing for my operation when suddenly my financial coverage stopped," he said. "I do not know how I will continue treatment, let alone support my family."

But the hardship extends beyond Egypt. Some employees who fled to Jordan, Lebanon, or Turkey reported similar experiences.

Rania, a social worker in her late thirties who relocated to Amman for her children's safety, described the shock of receiving a termination notice while still trying to rebuild her life.

"We left Gaza expecting safety and continuity in our work. Instead, we are treated as if our service never mattered," she told TNA.

Rania said her savings are nearly depleted, and without access to local employment permits, her family relies solely on limited humanitarian aid.

Agency accountability

The dismissals have sparked condemnation from Palestinian political leaders and factions. Ahmed Abu Holy, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, told TNA that the terminations are "a systematic administrative measure that negatively affects hundreds of employees and their families."

He warned that the decision undermines UNRWA's capacity to provide essential services. "The agency should consider alternative solutions that protect both its employees and the communities they serve," he said.

Fatah, Islamic Jihad, and the Democratic Front issued statements describing the dismissals as "unjust and inhumane."

Fatah emphasised that "terminating employees who left Gaza for safety or medical reasons violates both professional ethics and humanitarian principles. Their dismissal disrupts education and relief programs at a critical time."

Islamic Jihad added that the move "risks further destabilising refugee services and increases the suffering of families struggling to recover from the war," while the Democratic Front called on UNRWA and its donors to reconsider decisions affecting staff who left for unavoidable reasons.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) also criticised the agency, stating that layoffs represent a "systematic administrative execution harming both staff and millions of refugees who depend on UNRWA for basic rights."

Human rights organisations have similarly warned that cutting education staff could slow recovery in Gaza's schools, many of which were heavily damaged in the conflict.

Inside UNRWA, current and former employees described a tense period of "rapid policy adjustment and administrative pressure," with some senior staff leaving voluntarily in recent months.

Sources familiar with the agency's internal deliberations told TNA that further restructuring could affect operations in other fields or locations, depending on budget constraints and donor commitments.

UNRWA has faced financial challenges for years, with fluctuating donor support and rising demand for services.

The agency currently provides education, primary healthcare, and social assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Staff members familiar with internal communications noted that the recent dismissals are partly linked to a reassessment of program needs and financial planning, but many question whether alternatives to termination were fully considered.

Uncertain future

For dismissed employees now living abroad, daily life is a struggle. High rents, medical expenses, and the inability to work legally have left many dependents on dwindling savings or the occasional aid from relatives and charities.

"Rent consumes most of what we receive from occasional assistance," Samar said. Her son, still traumatised by the war, requires psychological support she cannot afford.

Ahmed, waiting for a prosthetic limb, said that while he focuses on treatment, the lack of income leaves him in a constant state of uncertainty. "We need clarity about our status and whether there are options for reinstatement," he said.

Rania, the social worker in Amman, emphasised that her family's basic needs—food, rent, and medical care—are becoming impossible to meet. "We survived death in Gaza, but now we face slow suffering through poverty and helplessness," she said.

Groups of former employees have begun meeting in exile to share information, discuss temporary employment options, and collectively advocate for UNRWA to reconsider its decisions.

"Behind every employee, a family depends on that salary," one worker told TNA. "It is not just money, it is security, treatment, and hope for our children."

The dismissals also highlight the wider humanitarian consequences. UNRWA schools and social programs depend on experienced staff, many of whom were displaced by the war.

Political analysts warned that losing these employees could disrupt educational continuity for tens of thousands of refugee children.

As discussions continue about UNRWA's financial position and the future of its operations in 2026, dismissed employees remain in limbo, unsure whether they can return to Gaza, resume their work, or continue vital medical treatment.

"Right now, our situation is suspended," Mohammed said. "We are just waiting to know what comes next."

For families who fled Gaza seeking safety, the shock of dismissal has transformed exile into a prolonged state of vulnerability.

Many express hopes that international donors and UNRWA leadership will reassess these decisions, restore support, or provide transitional assistance.