On July 1, UNRWA released its 5th report on the protection monitoring of the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon for the 1st quarter of 2022 (Q1 2022).
The data used in the report was gathered from UNRWA staff and local organizations in the form of surveys and interviews in 5 refugee camps in Lebanon (Beddawi in Northern Lebanon, Bourj Barajneh in Central Lebanon, Wavel in the Beqaa, Ein El Hilweh in Saida, and Rashidieh in Tyre).
Here are the main points of what was reported:
-Like the Lebanese people, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon were heavily affected by the economic crisis, struggling with the surge in the price of food, fuel, medicine, and rent.
-86% of Palestinian refugees are now in poverty.
-A lot of children no longer attend school due to transportation problems and are sent to work instead.
-Palestinians in the North and Beqaa were strongly affected by the winter that was colder and longer than in previous years.
-The spike in COVID in January and February accompanied the economic crisis costing refugees work opportunities.
-The worsening conditions were met with a rise in violence and theft in the camps, worrying women and children.
-The demands of the refugees for cash assistance surpassed UNRWA and NGOs’ ability to assist them, which caused some hatred towards these agencies.
Here are the main needs that will tackle these issues:
-Increase in cash assistance in order to meet the rising costs of goods and services.
-Aid to access services such as transportation.
-Strengthening coordination of local actors on protection needs in the camps like child protection and gender-based violence.
-Ensuring safe spaces for children to play in the camps.
– Raising awareness on residency renewal for Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) and advocating with the General Directorate of the General Security (GSO) on refugees turning 18 who are no longer on their family card.
-Increasing hospitalization coverage (UNRWA only covers a percentage of the costs).
The economic crisis didn’t only affect the Lebanese people but also the Palestinian refugees who were already suffering from poor living conditions and vulnerabilities such as restrictions on their right to work and access to services.
