The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has hailed its staff members who have shown a selfless dedication to help vulnerable communities fight the COVID-19 deadly virus.

“I address you on this World Health Day in the midst of a crisis without precedent in living memory as the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to circle around the globe”, a letter addressed to UNRWA staff read. “It is a virus that is ‘menacing the whole of humanity’, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, and ‘the whole of humanity must fight back.’”

“As the virus will not stop at the gates of Palestine refugee camps throughout the region, you – the Agency’s staff members and UNRWA medical and environmental health workers - have taken on this challenge and have started fighting back without hesitation”, it added.

The letter hailed all UNRWA staff members “who stand at the frontlines, unwavering and untiring, to fight this invisible enemy which has already changed life as we know it”.

It further lauded the efforts made by “the doctors and nurses who bravely continue to provide primary health care at all UNRWA clinics and have started to implement triage care to identify pathways for patients with respiratory symptoms”.

The letter also hailed pharmacists, laboratory technicians and workers, the environmental health staff and all staff who have been called upon to perform deep cleaning not only of UNRWA clinics, but also of the schools and training centers and all other critical UNRWA installations.

“I salute the sanitation laborers who continue with the critical solid waste collection in order to prevent environmental health hazards, first and foremost COVID-19. These are the staff at the very frontlines of this fight, who perform their duties at grave risk to themselves, yet without hesitation”, it said.

“I salute the teaching staff, social workers, food distribution workers, finance staff and all others, who have taken on the challenge of making sure we handle this enemy and minimize its devastating impact on our communities.  It is an enemy we must face up to together, a battle we must confront and respond to resolutely. However, without you, there would be no response.   You are the heroes of this historic moment and we will prevail because of you”, the letter proceeded.