School students in Gaza Strip are provided with water on August 29 (Photo: AFP)

The EU move announced Friday it is intended to help fill a 217 million USD budget short-fall left after the United States effectively ended its 350 million USD contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA). The deficit has led to the elimination of 113 jobs and 584 staff positions being converted to part-time.  UNWRA's Gaza employees went on strike Monday to protest pay cuts and dismissals.