Published : 27-10-2020
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, discussed with Syria’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal al-Miqdad the situation of Palestinian refugees in displacement camps across the war-torn country.
This came in a meeting held in Damascus on November 28 as part of a work visit that will last for a few days.
Lazzarini underscored the endeavours made by UNRWA to overcome its financial crisis and keep up its vital services to Palestinian refugees.
Al-Miqdad stressed Syria’s commitment to assist UNRWA in maintaining its mandate and continue to provide core essential services to Palestinian refugees.
The crisis in Syria has been one of the gravest and most demanding emergencies faced in the modern era. The vast majority of the 540,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria (PRS) are unable to meet their basic needs.
Many PRS lost their sources of income; Refugee camps have seen unprecedented levels of destruction; Rental prices have dramatically gone up; Undernourishment and poverty have been a daily nightmare.
Due to the serious protection gaps, children have been forced to drop out of school and join armed groups to help feed their starving families.
Hundreds of families have had women as their sole breadwinners; and in several other cases boys and girls are spotted begging in the street for a few pounds.
UNRWA said in its 2020 Syria regional crisis emergency appeal that 126,000 PRS are identified as extremely vulnerable; 89% live in poverty; 91% live in extreme poverty; and 80% rely on UNRWA cash assistance as their main source of income.
UNRWA also said that 55% of PRS do not possess valid legal residency documents and 86% of PRS households are reported to be in debt.
Hundreds of PRS have also risked their lives onboard “death-boats” bound for Europe, fleeing prosecution and economic hardship.
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, discussed with Syria’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal al-Miqdad the situation of Palestinian refugees in displacement camps across the war-torn country.
This came in a meeting held in Damascus on November 28 as part of a work visit that will last for a few days.
Lazzarini underscored the endeavours made by UNRWA to overcome its financial crisis and keep up its vital services to Palestinian refugees.
Al-Miqdad stressed Syria’s commitment to assist UNRWA in maintaining its mandate and continue to provide core essential services to Palestinian refugees.
The crisis in Syria has been one of the gravest and most demanding emergencies faced in the modern era. The vast majority of the 540,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria (PRS) are unable to meet their basic needs.
Many PRS lost their sources of income; Refugee camps have seen unprecedented levels of destruction; Rental prices have dramatically gone up; Undernourishment and poverty have been a daily nightmare.
Due to the serious protection gaps, children have been forced to drop out of school and join armed groups to help feed their starving families.
Hundreds of families have had women as their sole breadwinners; and in several other cases boys and girls are spotted begging in the street for a few pounds.
UNRWA said in its 2020 Syria regional crisis emergency appeal that 126,000 PRS are identified as extremely vulnerable; 89% live in poverty; 91% live in extreme poverty; and 80% rely on UNRWA cash assistance as their main source of income.
UNRWA also said that 55% of PRS do not possess valid legal residency documents and 86% of PRS households are reported to be in debt.
Hundreds of PRS have also risked their lives onboard “death-boats” bound for Europe, fleeing prosecution and economic hardship.
