Published : 03-07-2022
Palestinian refugees in/from Syria have leveled heavy criticism at UNRWA over its reluctance regarding their cries for help.
“We’ve been receiving no more than 20 USD from UNRWA every three or four months in a country where most of us, Palestinian refugees, lost our livelihoods”, a refugee told AGPS.
UNRWA cash grants, which are disbursed to the refugees according to the exchange rate of the Central Bank of Syria, lose 40% of their real value.
At the same time, in-kind aid items are distributed once or twice a year in a country where price inflation has reached a zenith.
UNRWA healthcare grants are also limited to patients with chronic diseases. The refugees are often forced to pay 2,000 USD for laboratory tests pending disbursement by UNRWA.
The refugees also said UNRWA has been involved in corrupt recruitment procedures as non-Palestinians affiliated with the Syrian regime have reportedly been recruited by the Agency.
Eleven years after demonstrations started in Syria, some 438,000 Palestinian refugees remain in the war-torn country, where they have been grappling with an abject humanitarian situation.
UNRWA data indicates that over half of the Palestine refugees in the country have been displaced at least once because of the brutal conflict that ensued, including 120,000 who have sought safety in neighbouring countries, mainly Lebanon and Jordan, and beyond.
Over 80% of PRS live in extreme poverty and rely on humanitarian assistance as their main source of income. 86% of PRS households are reported to be in debt.
Palestinian refugees in/from Syria have leveled heavy criticism at UNRWA over its reluctance regarding their cries for help.
“We’ve been receiving no more than 20 USD from UNRWA every three or four months in a country where most of us, Palestinian refugees, lost our livelihoods”, a refugee told AGPS.
UNRWA cash grants, which are disbursed to the refugees according to the exchange rate of the Central Bank of Syria, lose 40% of their real value.
At the same time, in-kind aid items are distributed once or twice a year in a country where price inflation has reached a zenith.
UNRWA healthcare grants are also limited to patients with chronic diseases. The refugees are often forced to pay 2,000 USD for laboratory tests pending disbursement by UNRWA.
The refugees also said UNRWA has been involved in corrupt recruitment procedures as non-Palestinians affiliated with the Syrian regime have reportedly been recruited by the Agency.
Eleven years after demonstrations started in Syria, some 438,000 Palestinian refugees remain in the war-torn country, where they have been grappling with an abject humanitarian situation.
UNRWA data indicates that over half of the Palestine refugees in the country have been displaced at least once because of the brutal conflict that ensued, including 120,000 who have sought safety in neighbouring countries, mainly Lebanon and Jordan, and beyond.
Over 80% of PRS live in extreme poverty and rely on humanitarian assistance as their main source of income. 86% of PRS households are reported to be in debt.
