Date: Dec.12, 2025
The Refugee Affairs Department and the Ministry of Labor Sign an Agreement to Support Palestinian Refugees and Improve Camp Conditions
The Refugee Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Ministry of Labor signed a cooperation agreement aims to enforce Palestinian refugees’ resilience in camps and improve their living conditions. This agreement has come within the framework of joint efforts to support both the labor and employment sector and the cooperative work sector, contributing to meeting the needs of refugees and achieving sustainable progress in Palestinian camps.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department, and Dr. Inas Al-Attari, Palestinian Minister of Labor and Chairwoman of the Cooperative Work Authority and the Employment Fund. Both parties emphasized the significance of the agreement in enhancing cooperation among governmental institutions to serve Palestinian refugees, asserting the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as an internationally mandated body, and refusing any attempts to replace or act on its behalf.
Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi stated that signing the agreement with the Palestinian Ministry of Labor represents a strategic step towards enhancing the joint national efforts to support Palestinian refugees and their resilience. He added, “The agreement is part of the department’s vision to improve living conditions inside the camps by implementing developmental projects that contribute to the economic and social empowerment of refugees.” He also stressed the importance of maintaining UNRWA’s role as the internationally mandated body working with refugees, in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 302, refusing any attempts to undermine or replace it.
Abu Holi praised the efforts made by the Palestinian leadership and the directives of President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen concerning the camps and the protection of UNRWA, as well as the continuous follow-up by Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa on refugee and camp issues. He noted that this agreement reflects the Palestinian leadership’s commitment to supporting refugees and protecting their national rights.
For her part, Palestinian Minister of Labor Dr. Inas Al-Attari clarified that “ The agreement reflects the Ministry of Labor’s commitment to supporting Palestinian refugees by enhancing the cooperative work sector and providing more employment opportunities, in line with the priorities of sustainable development in Palestinian camps.” She added that the ministry seeks through this cooperation to activate developmental and vocational programs which respond to the needs of refugees and contribute to improving their living conditions, focusing on providing an entire economic environment that achieves justice and strengthens resilience.
The agreement aims to improve the living conditions of refugees through the implementation of various developmental projects and providing new opportunities in the camps. It also focuses on supporting cooperative associations, enhancing vocational training, and promoting decent employment for both genders. Among the main purposes of the agreement is to unify national efforts to ensure justice in the distribution of resources and prioritize camp needs to meet refugees’ requirements.
The cooperation fields include economic empowerment through establishing cooperative associations in the camps, implementing vocational training programs, and planning joint projects aimed at improving camp conditions and supporting refugees. The agreement also includes collaboration between the two parties to direct donors towards supporting the camps and allocating budgets to cover the agreed-upon activities and projects.
