Published : 07-04-2020
Available statistics by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) indicates that the number of Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) taking shelter in the Lebanese territories has dropped off.
In its 2020 Syria crisis emergency appeal, in August and September 2019, UNRWA conducted a verification exercise of PRS in Lebanon and verified the physical presence of 27,803 PRS in the country.
The number of PRS in Lebanon has been gradually decreasing over the past two years, and UNRWA estimates that in 2020 the country will continue to host approximately 27,700 PRS (8,450 families).
According to a survey conducted by the American University of Beirut in 2015, nearly 90 percent of the PRS population in Lebanon live in poverty, including 9 per cent who are in extreme poverty and unable to meet even their most essential food requirements.
The UN Agency also said PRS continue to face high vulnerability in the Lebanese territories. PRS’s vulnerability is exacerbated by their precarious legal status.
According to the Agency’s monitoring data, around 55 percent of PRS do not possess valid legal residency documents. The lack of a valid legal status, often coupled with outdated civil registration documents, results in severely restricted freedom of movement for some PRS in Lebanon due to fear of arrest, detention and being issued a departure order.
In 2019, the decision of the General Security Office of the Government of Lebanon to deport Syrians who entered the country illegally after 24 April 2019, coupled with departure orders issued to PRS without valid residency who entered before that date, have also increased the fear of PRS of being deported to Syria, said UNRWA.
The socio-economic hardships and unrest experienced by all in the country have compounded PRS’ already dire living conditions. According to information collected by UNRWA, more than 80 per cent of PRS indicate that the Agency’s cash assistance is their main source of income.
Available statistics by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) indicates that the number of Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) taking shelter in the Lebanese territories has dropped off.
In its 2020 Syria crisis emergency appeal, in August and September 2019, UNRWA conducted a verification exercise of PRS in Lebanon and verified the physical presence of 27,803 PRS in the country.
The number of PRS in Lebanon has been gradually decreasing over the past two years, and UNRWA estimates that in 2020 the country will continue to host approximately 27,700 PRS (8,450 families).
According to a survey conducted by the American University of Beirut in 2015, nearly 90 percent of the PRS population in Lebanon live in poverty, including 9 per cent who are in extreme poverty and unable to meet even their most essential food requirements.
The UN Agency also said PRS continue to face high vulnerability in the Lebanese territories. PRS’s vulnerability is exacerbated by their precarious legal status.
According to the Agency’s monitoring data, around 55 percent of PRS do not possess valid legal residency documents. The lack of a valid legal status, often coupled with outdated civil registration documents, results in severely restricted freedom of movement for some PRS in Lebanon due to fear of arrest, detention and being issued a departure order.
In 2019, the decision of the General Security Office of the Government of Lebanon to deport Syrians who entered the country illegally after 24 April 2019, coupled with departure orders issued to PRS without valid residency who entered before that date, have also increased the fear of PRS of being deported to Syria, said UNRWA.
The socio-economic hardships and unrest experienced by all in the country have compounded PRS’ already dire living conditions. According to information collected by UNRWA, more than 80 per cent of PRS indicate that the Agency’s cash assistance is their main source of income.
