Published : 04-07-2021
UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that in Syria, 10 years of conflict have left the country and its Palestine refugee community shattered.
“Many Palestine refugees in Syria report living on one meal a day”, Lazzarini told the Virtual Advisory Commission. “Over 90 per cent of them are under the poverty line”.
“In Lebanon, over 50 per cent of the population lives under the poverty line, including almost all Palestine refugees, who were already among the most marginalized communities in the country. Even access to daily commodities and services have become a struggle for almost everyone in Lebanon. Palestine refugees in camps are so desperate that I called Lebanon an internal emergency on my last visit there in April”, he warned.
Lazzarini added that Jordan suffers the ripple effect of events in the West Bank and the long-term impact of the war in Syria, in addition to its own challenges. Palestine refugees, especially those from Syria, face immense economic hardship and only have UNRWA to turn to.
COVID-19 and its socio-economic impact remain rife, as vaccination coverage remains low in the region. Host countries urgently need more vaccines to prevent further waves of infections and for the economies to recover.
“While we might seem to be in a better financial position compared to this time last year, we are not yet financially stable. We continue to live month by month. The return of the United States support has allowed us to reduce the shortfall. In return though, some major regional partners are still absent and other have reduced their contributions this year”, said Lazzarini.
UNRWA’s chief added that the Agency’s Emergency Appeals for the Syria regional crisis and for the occupied Palestinian territory also remain seriously underfunded at respectively 35 per cent and 62 per cent. Funds are urgently needed to sustain food and cash assistance to over two million refugees across the region and continue our protection work in the West Bank.
UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that in Syria, 10 years of conflict have left the country and its Palestine refugee community shattered.
“Many Palestine refugees in Syria report living on one meal a day”, Lazzarini told the Virtual Advisory Commission. “Over 90 per cent of them are under the poverty line”.
“In Lebanon, over 50 per cent of the population lives under the poverty line, including almost all Palestine refugees, who were already among the most marginalized communities in the country. Even access to daily commodities and services have become a struggle for almost everyone in Lebanon. Palestine refugees in camps are so desperate that I called Lebanon an internal emergency on my last visit there in April”, he warned.
Lazzarini added that Jordan suffers the ripple effect of events in the West Bank and the long-term impact of the war in Syria, in addition to its own challenges. Palestine refugees, especially those from Syria, face immense economic hardship and only have UNRWA to turn to.
COVID-19 and its socio-economic impact remain rife, as vaccination coverage remains low in the region. Host countries urgently need more vaccines to prevent further waves of infections and for the economies to recover.
“While we might seem to be in a better financial position compared to this time last year, we are not yet financially stable. We continue to live month by month. The return of the United States support has allowed us to reduce the shortfall. In return though, some major regional partners are still absent and other have reduced their contributions this year”, said Lazzarini.
UNRWA’s chief added that the Agency’s Emergency Appeals for the Syria regional crisis and for the occupied Palestinian territory also remain seriously underfunded at respectively 35 per cent and 62 per cent. Funds are urgently needed to sustain food and cash assistance to over two million refugees across the region and continue our protection work in the West Bank.
