Published : 22-12-2021
The Association of Civil Society Organizations of Palestinians of Syria in Lebanon has denounced a recent decision by UNRWA to cut aid for Palestinians from Syria (PRS) in Lebanon, saying the decision will result in tragic consequences for PRS and force hundreds of them to board “death boats” to Europe.
In a memorandum to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the CSOs said 28,000 Palestinian refugees who fled war-torn Syria to Lebanon to seek safe shelters for their children have been enduring dire humanitarian condition for over 10 years due to their precarious legal status and lack of access to basic services.
The memorandum added that 8,700 PRS families in Lebanon have been living in distress following the latest decision by UNRWA to suspend rental allowances.
The COSs called for urgent action to pressurize UNRWA to cancel the decision and rather seek alternative funding channels to be able to keep up its services for vulnerable Palestinian refugees. Host countries should also assume their responsibilities in this regard.
The statement warned that the decision would result in increasing rates of poverty, school dropouts, child labor, and, as a consequence, juvenile delinquency.
Over recent days, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have rallied outside of UNRWA offices in Sidon, Tripoli, Central AlBekaa, and Beirut to protest the Agency’s decision to reduce cash aid for Palestinian refugee families from Syria (PRS).
The protesters have strongly condemned the decision which they said is a sign of apathy regarding the abject humanitarian condition already endured by the Palestinian refugee community in displacement camps across the Lebanese territories.
They added that the decision is also a serious breach of UNRWA’s humanitarian mission as mandated by the UN and the Agency’s promise to assist Palestinian refugees in its five fields of operation, including Lebanon.
Palestinian refugees threatened to escalate protest moves and set up sit-in tents outside of UNRWA offices to pressurize the Agency to cancel the decision and work on their unconditional return to their homes from which they have been displaced by the Israeli occupation since 1948.
Last week, UNRWA said in a statement that starting 2022, multi-purpose monthly cash grants of 100 USD to every registered Palestinian refugee family from Syria (PRS) will be reduced to 25 USD per person.
The Agency also said every PRS will receive an additional cash grant of 150 USD two times a year. UNRWA will suspend its food allowances for PRS in Lebanon.
The new measures will be put into effect as of January 1, 2022.
The Association of Civil Society Organizations of Palestinians of Syria in Lebanon has denounced a recent decision by UNRWA to cut aid for Palestinians from Syria (PRS) in Lebanon, saying the decision will result in tragic consequences for PRS and force hundreds of them to board “death boats” to Europe.
In a memorandum to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the CSOs said 28,000 Palestinian refugees who fled war-torn Syria to Lebanon to seek safe shelters for their children have been enduring dire humanitarian condition for over 10 years due to their precarious legal status and lack of access to basic services.
The memorandum added that 8,700 PRS families in Lebanon have been living in distress following the latest decision by UNRWA to suspend rental allowances.
The COSs called for urgent action to pressurize UNRWA to cancel the decision and rather seek alternative funding channels to be able to keep up its services for vulnerable Palestinian refugees. Host countries should also assume their responsibilities in this regard.
The statement warned that the decision would result in increasing rates of poverty, school dropouts, child labor, and, as a consequence, juvenile delinquency.
Over recent days, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have rallied outside of UNRWA offices in Sidon, Tripoli, Central AlBekaa, and Beirut to protest the Agency’s decision to reduce cash aid for Palestinian refugee families from Syria (PRS).
The protesters have strongly condemned the decision which they said is a sign of apathy regarding the abject humanitarian condition already endured by the Palestinian refugee community in displacement camps across the Lebanese territories.
They added that the decision is also a serious breach of UNRWA’s humanitarian mission as mandated by the UN and the Agency’s promise to assist Palestinian refugees in its five fields of operation, including Lebanon.
Palestinian refugees threatened to escalate protest moves and set up sit-in tents outside of UNRWA offices to pressurize the Agency to cancel the decision and work on their unconditional return to their homes from which they have been displaced by the Israeli occupation since 1948.
Last week, UNRWA said in a statement that starting 2022, multi-purpose monthly cash grants of 100 USD to every registered Palestinian refugee family from Syria (PRS) will be reduced to 25 USD per person.
The Agency also said every PRS will receive an additional cash grant of 150 USD two times a year. UNRWA will suspend its food allowances for PRS in Lebanon.
The new measures will be put into effect as of January 1, 2022.
