Suffering of the Double Displaced

Double Refugee: a seemingly non-existent term that could be used to describe hundreds of thousands of unfortunate souls around the world. Having lived through conflict in both Palestine and Syria, Palestinian Refugees from Syria (PRS) have faced unimaginable hardships that continue as they struggle to persevere. While Syrian nationals may return to their home country in the future, the fate for Palestinian Refugees from Syria is increasingly uncertain. The mass of these people have found refuge in Lebanon, yet there is still no end of the suffering in sight.

History

Palestinian Conflict

Palestine, officially known as the State of Palestine, refers to a small region in the Middle East, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. As of today, much of that land is controlled by and considered to be part of Israel. The people of Palestine have had a long history of conflict and anguish. Between the Nakba in 1948, the Six-Day War in 1967, and the Syrian refugee crisis starting in 2011, there are some five million Palestinian refugees around the world (UNRWA, 2020). Although Palestine’s history began long before the 20th century. The region was said to be occupied since before the 12th century B.C., and throughout history, has been ruled by many different groups including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Fatimids, Seljuk Turks, Crusaders, Egyptians, Mamelukes and Islamists (A&E, 2017). For much of Palestine’s history, the Ottoman Empire ruled the region, until the British took control at the conclusion of World War I.

In 1947, a partition was proposed by the United Nations for Palestine to be divided into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Palestinian Arabs refused this idea, citing that they were the majority and should assume greater control of the area. In May of the following year, Israel became an independent state, Britain withdrew, and over 700,000 Palestinians were forced to leave their homes in what was named the Nakba as Arab-Israeli war ensued. Almost two decades later, conflict was exacerbated when Israel attacked Egypt, Syria, and Jordan from June 5-10, 1967 in what became known as The Six-Day War. The conclusion of the war brought increased land reign for Israel as they took control of the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights, and another 280,000 to 325,000 Palestinian refugees, but the fighting did not stop there.

Violence has continued to rage on between Palestinians and Israelis to the present day in which Palestinians now occupy the West Bank and Gaza, but Israelis continue to settle there, and even Palestine’s status as a state is uncertain.

In 1952, the UNRWA established that “a Palestine refugee shall mean any person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period June 1, 1946, to May 15, 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict” (Bocco, 2009). This definition has remained relatively unchanged. Since then, there have been three generations of refugees from the state who have fled, primarily to surrounding Middle Eastern nations such as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, etc.

Syrian Conflict

While Syria has a rich history dating back to the time of Neanderthals, established civilizations over 5000 years old, Ottoman Empire control, and eventually, it’s independence in 1946, the country has become more well-known in recent years with the largest population of refugees in the world. What has been termed the Arab Spring began in Tunisia as peaceful anti-government protests, which quickly spread across the Middle East, notably in Syria. The nation was, and is still, ruled by President Bashar Al-Assad who attempted to cease these riots, turning the situation into a very not-peaceful civil war. Due to the intense conflict that emerged, many Syrians fled their homes in an attempt to find refuge across the country and region in places including Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and even Egypt. By the following year, Lebanon had become the central destination for Syrian refugees.

Over the next few years, with rises in inhumane war crimes such as the targeting of non-violent citizens and chemical attacks, the number of refugees increased immensely. By March 2013, more than one million people had left Syria (The UN Refugee Agency, 2019). With about two-thirds of the Syrian population requiring urgent assistance, this conflict became known as the worst humanitarian crisis of our time (Mercy Corps, 2015). Despite attempts to mitigate the consequences, humanitarian organizations have found it difficult to intervene and help the growing number of displaced people. After over seven years of conflict, which is ongoing to this day, there were more than one million Syrian refugees registered in Lebanon, about 3.6 million in Turkey, 700,000 in Jordan, and 7,000 who were protected in the United States (Roth, 2019).

Palestinian Refugees in Syria

Following the Nakba, in which more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced, 90,000 of them made their way to Syria, which became a prominent area for refugees from this region to flee due to its proximity. From then until the Syrian uprising in 2011, the refugee population had grown more than five times to 500,000 refugees (BADIL, 2014).

Palestinian refugees who were registered in Syria were able to enjoy many of the same rights as Syrian citizens, excluding citizenship and the right to vote (BADIL, 2014). In January of 1949, the government of Syrian established the Bureau for Palestinian Arab Refugees, now known as the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees (GAPAR) to offer assistance, security, and resources for the refugees.

Despite the neutrality of the Palestinians in Syria, the Syrian Army led an invasion of the Palestinian refugee camp of al-Ramel in August of 2011, uprooting approximately 5,000 more Palestinians. This terror of the camps did not stop there. In December of 2012, Yarmouk Camp, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, was bombed, killing many and displacing even more. The camp’s population dropped from 160,000 to just 30,000. About 6,000 residents in the Ein el-Tal refugee camp were forced to leave in April of 2013 after months of combat.

The civil war in Syria has affected more than just the lives of Syrian citizens, but the refugees that were hosted before the war began as well. The Palestinian refugees who found safety in Syria have been forced yet again to leave their homes in search of a better life. Most of the Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) fled to Jordan and Lebanon until Jordan sealed off its borders in early 2013. Even though it is an international human right, Israel has refused to allow Palestinians to return home. As of 2014, over 90% of PRS were in need of assistance from UNRWA to simply meet their basic needs (Morrison, 2014). PRS continue to suffer from secondary displacement due to unrest in both Palestine and Syria.

PRS in Lebanon

Movement

As the movement of Palestinian Refugees from Syria became prevalent, so did the term “Death Convoys” (JMEPP, 2014). This phrase referred to the dangerous voyages that the PRS would take across the Mediterranean when their effort to find refuge in neighboring countries was unsuccessful. This resulted in the drowning of hundreds of refugees. Those who had been able to find refuge in the neighboring countries of Lebanon (51,000) and Jordan (11,000) were not so lucky either as they continue to face adversity (JMEPP, 2014).

No other country in modern history has hosted as many refugees as Lebanon, with approximately 1.2 million Syrians as of 2016, not including the 450,000 Palestinian refugees from the Arab-Israeli war, or the 50,000 PRS (Rabil, 2016). At the time, 51% of the PRS resided in camps. In Lebanon, about every 1 in 3 people is a refugee. This has greatly impacted the demography, stability, security, infrastructure, and overall survival of the country. In 2018, an extensive headcount conducted by UNRWA found that the number of PRS in the country has continued to decline to 29,145 from 32,042 in 2016 (UNRWA, 2019). This is a result of further movement to a third country or independent return to Syria.

Emergency Response

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the leading agency that provides support and coordinates emergency response for the Palestinian Refugees from Syria. The organization was created in 1949 following the first departure of Palestinians during the Arab-Israeli war. From food, water, shelter, and health, to reconstruction, education, protection, and legal status, the UNRWA offers critical support to PRS.

The UNRWA ensures that basic food security is provided to vulnerable refugees through the existing food distribution networks (UNRWA, 2019). A distribution for food and housing assistance was completed in 2013 that targeted over 14,000 PRS families in Lebanon (UNRWA, 2014). As for housing, the UNRWA is able to provide temporary shelters for refugees whose homes were destroyed as a result of conflict or displacement. Along with the shelter, they may include additional necessities such as blankets, cooking utensils, etc.

In an attempt to control the spread of infections and diseases, which are common in refugee camps given the conditions of overcrowding and limited resources, the UNRWA makes sure that refugees have access to safe drinking water, adequate sewage systems, and other essential services that help to combat the spread and improve hygiene (UNRWA, 2019). In case of an outbreak or existing illnesses, there are over 100 clinics nearby with capable resources and staff to ensure basic health care needs are met. In addition to this, the UNRWA also covers the cost of primary health care services for PRS which includes medical consultations, free medications, costs of secondary, and contributing towards tertiary hospitalization for emergency situations (UNRWA, 2014). Along with supporting those with critical health conditions, the agency has set up community groups to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in three of the refugee camps.

Within the refugee camps, the UNRWA may assist in the reconstruction and repair of any damage to homes due to violence (UNRWA, 2019). Not only does this help those whose home was destroyed, but it also provides temporary job opportunities in the construction sector. Shelter rehabilitation projects were completed for many families in the Ein el-Hilweh camp in Saida and Burj Shamali Camp in Tyre (UNRWA, 2014).

An important aspect of helping refugees to settle into the camp is providing education. The UNRWA works to guarantee that the education offered is accessible, safe, and quality. This includes addressing the “safety, protection, learning, health, and psychosocial needs of students during an emergency, including through the provision of remedial classes and counseling services” (UNRWA, 2019). Classes offered may incorporate Arabic, English, Arithmetic, and recreational activities. In February of 2014, 7,400 PRS students were enrolled in UNRWA schools; 89% were in special classes for PRS, while 11% were integrated into regular classes for Palestine Refugees in Lebanon (UNRWA, 2014).

Cash assistance and job creations have been utilized by the agency to provide families with financial resources. The work offered is typically short-term, both skilled and unskilled, but offers PRS the “opportunity to alleviate poverty and restore dignity while contributing to community recovery and protection” (UNRWA, 2019). There is special attention paid to vulnerable groups such as women, young adults, and those with disabilities.

Furthermore, the UNRWA has offered legal help, in a sense, working in coordination with other UN agencies and the Lebanse General Security on visa options (UNRWA, 2014). In August of 2013, Lebanon began denying entry into the country to many refugees coming from Syria, including PRS. The agency continues to advocate for the equal treatment of all refugees at their border. This blatant discrimination is apparent in visa allocation, among other things.

Discrimination

Syrian refugees arriving in Lebanon are given an entry coupon with an entry stamp, upon confirmation of a valid identity card or passport, which grants the person residency for 6 months (Rabil, 2016). This residency stamp can be renewed for an additional 6 months at no cost. Once that has expired, the renewal fee is $200 which provides another 6 months of residency, which can be renewed again for 6 months at no cost. The stamp can only be used to enter at one of 5 official border crossings. Those who cross at unofficial border crossings pay a fee between $20 and $60. However, despite this being a system for Syrian refugees, this “open door” policy does not apply to PRS. Until May of 2014, PRS were provided a 15-day visa, which could be renewed for 3 months for the cost of $17. As of May 2015, the government of Lebanon has essentially stopped allowing PRS, or any Syrian refugee for that matter, into the country. The Minister of Social Affairs, Rashid Derbas, addressed this later that year stating:

“Any Syrian national is welcome, but not as a refugee...Stopping the refugees is final because Lebanon is no longer able to host anymore,” (Rabil, 2016).

Ninette Kelley, the UNHCR representative to Lebanon responded to this action by calling it the largest humanitarian tragedy of our time” (Rabil, 2016). She went on to say:

“These restrictions are highly problematic… many refugees could not afford the cost of renewing their permits, did not have formal lease agreements, and needed to find temporary work in the local communities to survive… We also see that it’s exposing refugees to abuse from unscrupulous landlords or mukhtars, who ask for favors, sexual or otherwise, in exchange for these documents.”

The United Nations has ostensibly failed in its duties to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable populations, including double refugees. The United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR), which is the agency in charge of protecting the refugees of the Syrian conflict, has asserted that PRS are the responsibility of the UNRWA (JMEPP, 2014). This means that the Palestinian double refugees will be provided a different degree of assistance, often lower considering the capabilities of the agency. It is evident that there are a limited number of options for PRS as they cannot return to their own home, yet continued displacement will worsen their situations and suffering.

Development Plan

In the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2020 update, it was found that Lebanon is currently hosting 1.5 million Syrians, 27,700 PRS, and about 180,000 Palestinian refugees from Lebanon (PRL) in 12 camps (UN RC/HC Lebanon, 2020). Efforts are rightfully being made on both regional and country levels to protect the lives of these refugees, prevent additional harmful risks, reduce the vulnerabilities that they experience, and overall improve the lives of the refugee and host communities (Rabil, 2016). These response plans, being carried out by the host nation government, international community, and UN agencies aim to strengthen the resilience of everyone involved and reduce the need for humanitarian assistance in the future. It’s evident that the humanitarian organizations that have been working with refugees, and specifically PRS, do not have sufficient resources to deal with the massive refugee crisis.

The Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) incorporates the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) focuses on promoting resilience for all, protecting people, pursuing durable solutions, supporting dignified lives, and enhancing local and national capacities (3RP, 2020). However, inconsistency in funding, the massive refugee presence, security risks, conservative politics, ISIS campaigns, and more have begun to pose a threat to the aid foundation.

In support of the LCRP, Lebanon has received over $5 billion since 2015. Partners of the plan have provided fundamental support to the communities across all categories. Some of the achievements of the LCRP include “support to Lebanese critical infrastructure such as water and waste management; a wide range of initiatives helping local municipalities address livelihoods and service provision for their communities; extensive cash assistance bringing life-saving support to the poorest groups while boosting the local economy; support to health centers and hospitals around the country; and substantial advances in helping the Government of Lebanon enroll greater numbers of children in public schools every year:” a huge advance in the direction of the overall goals (UN RC/HC Lebanon, 2020). The LCRP utilizes a needs-based approach, adapting to changes based on the review of necessities.

As the comprehensive plan is a joint effort, considerations are taken by the affected communities, government, and partners in order to achieve the objectives. The response plan constantly looks to expand the investments and partnerships that work towards long-term development strategies, as well as durable solutions. A four-year strategic planning framework was developed and implemented as a medium-term plan through the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), the UN, national and international NGOs, other actors, and donors to address these objectives.

Conclusion

Israel needs to acknowledge the refugees' right to return home. While they are making strides through the LCRP, Lebanon, as well as other countries hosting PRS still need to reconsider their prejudicial policies to allow the refugees to stay as long as there is a threat of returning. The remainder of the world, especially other Arab countries, need to share the responsibility of the significant magnitude of PRS. The UN needs to better incorporate the needs of PRS and work with the host government, as the UNRWA does not have the capacity to care for all of them. All in all, goals can be met and suffering can be diminished through a strengthened international community and improved cooperation.

References:

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