GAZA, October 5, 2011 (WAFA) - For the second week running, the Local Staff Union (LSU) in Gaza has called for a day-long strike in all 243 UNRWA operated schools in Gaza, Wednesday said a press release by the UNRWA Gaza field office.

UNRWA is extremely concerned about the impact of further strikes on the education of 220,000 children in our schools, children whose right to education is being denied.

This second day of strike action coincides with World Teachers’ Day, an international event celebrating the achievement and dedication of teachers the world over. UNRWA had planned to honor our teachers on this day. However, due to a call to boycott the planned events by the LSU, and the closure of our schools, UNRWA is unable to go ahead with the event under such circumstances.

UNRWA calls for the staff member’s grievance to be addressed through the Agency’s Internal Justice System, as it is the proper and transparent mechanism for doing so, and as agreed by the unions. The Agency believes that staff will agree that children, parents and local communities should not be made to bear the cost of this dispute.

It regrets that at a time of economic hardship in the Gaza Strip the unions have led staff into strike action which can only impact negatively on monthly family incomes.

The UNRWA administration stands with the parents, teachers, School Principals and other education management, who are against any action that negatively impacts the education and well-being of their children over this or any other matter. As humanitarian workers, we must all continue to ensure the provision of education to our children, and all other services to our beneficiaries, whatever the circumstances.

F.R.