¡¡ ¡¡GAZA, March 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Various UN organizations in the Palestinian lands and Israel have instructed their employees to evacuate families for fear of an expected US-led war with Iraq, a UN official said on Thursday.

¡¡¡¡Samir Meshasha, a spokesman of the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said in Jerusalem that the evacuation was "preventive and temporary."

¡¡¡¡"The decision came after the United Nations found that it would never be able to guarantee flights and seats on board in case war begins," he said, adding the decision does not refer to UN employees.

¡¡¡¡He said all the UN employees would stay in the Palestinian lands and Israel to continue providing humanitarian services to the people there who suffer from hard living conditions.

¡¡¡¡The decision was made during a meeting of top UN officials two weeks ago, which was chaired by UNRWA Commissioner-General Peter Hansen.

¡¡¡¡"The decision is obligatory to all the employees," Meshasha said. "Still there are a few employees who had not yet sent their families back to their countries."

¡¡¡¡He said the United Nations gave those employees until March 15 to take their families outside Israel and the Palestinian lands, adding that after the date, the United Nations will not be responsible for any family in case of the war.

¡¡¡¡All UN organizations, especially the UNRWA, have already mapped out emergency plans.

¡¡¡¡Meshasha said the UNRWA suffers from a financial crisis, expressing hope that it would be able to receive urgent aid to helpit fulfill its mission in the war. Enditem¡¡