Published : 16-04-2020
Palestinian refugees who fled war-torn Syria to Egypt have called on UNRWA to take up its responsibilities and hand them over relief and cash aids, amid the economic hardship inflicted by COVID-19 outbreak in the Sissi-led country.
The refugees have slammed UNRWA for dragging its feet over their calls for help on account that Egypt falls outside of its five fields of operation (Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria).
Palestinian refugees who fled war-torn Syria have been subjected to a fragile legal status in Egypt, where they are treated as foreigners rather than asylum-seekers fleeing war-stricken zones. Palestinians from Syria have also been denied the right to legal visas, refugee documents, safe accommodation, basic services, relief assistance, free movement, and access to education and labor, among other basic necessities.
AGPS continues to stress the need to secure the rights of the Palestinians from Syria in Egypt as per the Refugee Convention of 1951, and to hand them over cash and in-kind aids, along with refugee cards, in order to enhance their legal status in the Egyptian territories.
As of Wednesday, the Middle East's most populous country had seen 178 deaths from the virus. The World Health Organization says about 13% of those infected in Egypt are healthcare workers.
The country has a night-time curfew in place, and schools, universities and mosques are closed.
Doctors tackling coronavirus in Egypt have told the BBC they are worried about shortages of protective equipment and feel their concerns are not being taken seriously enough.
Palestinian refugees who fled war-torn Syria to Egypt have called on UNRWA to take up its responsibilities and hand them over relief and cash aids, amid the economic hardship inflicted by COVID-19 outbreak in the Sissi-led country.
The refugees have slammed UNRWA for dragging its feet over their calls for help on account that Egypt falls outside of its five fields of operation (Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria).
Palestinian refugees who fled war-torn Syria have been subjected to a fragile legal status in Egypt, where they are treated as foreigners rather than asylum-seekers fleeing war-stricken zones. Palestinians from Syria have also been denied the right to legal visas, refugee documents, safe accommodation, basic services, relief assistance, free movement, and access to education and labor, among other basic necessities.
AGPS continues to stress the need to secure the rights of the Palestinians from Syria in Egypt as per the Refugee Convention of 1951, and to hand them over cash and in-kind aids, along with refugee cards, in order to enhance their legal status in the Egyptian territories.
As of Wednesday, the Middle East's most populous country had seen 178 deaths from the virus. The World Health Organization says about 13% of those infected in Egypt are healthcare workers.
The country has a night-time curfew in place, and schools, universities and mosques are closed.
Doctors tackling coronavirus in Egypt have told the BBC they are worried about shortages of protective equipment and feel their concerns are not being taken seriously enough.
