Regulatory Alerts2025-01-01
UNRWA Humanitarian Loans to Staff in Gaza Sector
The UNRWA Field Finance Office issued a directive to the Palestinian Monetary Authority to facilitate humanitarian loans of up to $4,000 from staff savings for employees with at least five years of service. The directive mandates that these loans, repayable over a maximum of six years, be disbursed directly into Palestinian bank accounts via payroll deductions starting in October 2025. It further instructs banks to ensure these funds are not withheld, frozen, or offset against any existing banking liabilities to preserve their humanitarian purpose.
Issued by the Finance Department of UNRWA 2025/869 Date: 18.10.2025
Dear Mr. / Governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority,
Greetings,
Subject: Granting of humanitarian loans by UNRWA to its staff from their savings with UNRWA
Please be informed that, based on the approval of the UNRWA Commissioner-General and in light of the prevailing humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA has decided to grant humanitarian loans to its staff from their savings with UNRWA, up to a maximum of $4,000 (Four Thousand Dollars), according to the following conditions:
- The employee eligible for the loan is one who has been working with UNRWA for at least 5 years or more.
- The loan repayment period is a maximum of 72 months (6 years).
- All employees receiving these humanitarian loans must be currently employed by UNRWA and have a monthly salary transferred to Palestinian banks.
- The loan is granted to the employee in an amount equal to one-quarter of the salary, ensuring that the employee does not default.
- These loans will be transferred to the employees' accounts in Palestinian banks starting from the current month (October) along with monthly salaries and will be included in the payroll lists.
Based on the above, please ensure that your instructions are conveyed to the Palestinian banks operating in the Gaza Strip to transfer these amounts to the employees' accounts and not to withhold them, freeze them in their accounts, or deduct them to cover any banking obligations owed by the employee, in order to convey the humanitarian purpose of these loans under the difficult circumstances faced by employees in the Gaza Strip.
We thank you for your continued cooperation and understanding.
Husain El Shorihi Acting Deputy Head Field Finance Office SALLY HOUSTOUN Head Field Finance Office Docusign Envelope ID: 851CB54A-34E8-4154-A2BF-70CE29D72921