UNITED Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl affirmed on Friday that his recent visit to Syria will contribute to drawing the attention of the world to the situation of the Palestinian refugees during the current difficult circumstances in Syria.
He noted that the agency lacks the necessary funds for its work. In a press conference at the UNRWA Headquarters in Damascus, Krähenbühl said he noticed the Syrian government’s respect for and high interest in the issue of the Palestinian refugees.
He noted that his visit, which lasted 5 days, focused on the situation of the Palestinian refugees in Aleppo, where many of them were displaced many times and lost their homes, jobs and means of a livelihood.
He pointed out that this visit will help in raising awareness and will contribute to drawing the attention of the world to not forget the issue of the Palestinian refugees under the current difficult circumstances in Syria.
Speaking about whether there are efforts to help displaced Palestinians in Syria return to their camps which have been restored from the hands of armed terrorist organisations, Krähenbühl said the UNRWA is currently discussing the return of refugees to Sbeineh and areas around Yelda.
He referred to the recent positive experience where refugees returned to their homes in al-Husseiniyeh near Damascus. He said that there are 25,000 Palestinian refugees in Aleppo, 9,000 of them are inside the city of Aleppo, while around 16,000 of them are in al-Nairab Camp.
He added that the refugees who were displaced from Ayn al-Tal Camp in 2013 are currently residing in temporary residential centres provided by the Syrian government, while others reside in al-Nairab Camp and other makeshift centres affiliated to the UNRWA.
He pointed out that the number of Palestinian refugees in Syria before 2011 registered with UNRWA was about 560,000, and that around 110,000 and 120,000 had left Syria, including about 31,000 to Lebanon and 17,000 to Jordan and the rest of them are distributed among Turkey, Egypt and Europe.
He said that there are still about 440,000 refugees in Syria and 65% of those are displaced, many of whom have been displaced more than once. Krähenbühl noted that the Syrian government has provided the buildings of 55 schools to enable the UNRWA to provide its educational services.
He added that the number of students at the UNRWA schools reached 45,000 students, after it decreased to 20,000 in 2012, while in 2011 the number of students at the UNRWA schools was 66,000 students.
He also praised the efforts of the UNRWA staff working in Syria, which is continuing to work despite the difficulties and the loss of 20 of its members during the performing their duties, adding that the UNRWA is under-funded as it received only 55% of the support it looked forward to having.
UNWRA said in a statement: ‘UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl visited Syria from 26 to 31 March, meeting with Palestine Refugees, UNRWA staff and senior government officials.
‘The primary focus of the visit was a three-day mission to Aleppo during which the Commissioner-General gained a detailed understanding of the protection concerns and needs of some 25,000 Palestine Refugees who remained in this embattled and deeply scarred city and region of northern Syria over the last six years.
‘Mr. Krähenbühl had access to Ein el-Tal, a camp from where Palestine Refugees were forcibly driven by armed groups in April 2013 and which today lies in ruin. ‘The Commissioner-General met with representatives of refugees displaced from Ein el-Tal, many of whom have lived in overcrowded and precarious shelters for almost four years: “In their words, I heard the pain of another generation of Palestinians enduring the trauma of loss and devastation. Their demands were humble but their plight immense.”
‘A separate visit took Mr. Krähenbühl to Nairab Camp, where some 16,000 Palestine Refugees live. While security conditions have improved for them in recent months, representatives of the community spoke of significant concerns about their immediate and longer-term future.
‘They expressed deep recognition for the work by the UNRWA team in Aleppo who stayed and provided services throughout the conflict. The representatives also voiced the hope that the Agency would increase some of its programmes, notably in cash, food and health.
‘During the visit, the Commissioner-General met with many students, members of the school parliaments and youth representatives. “Once again, I was profoundly marked by the horrific experiences many of these children have gone through, losing parents, suffering injuries and at times extreme psychological shocks. I was also inspired by youth associations who are taking initiatives to help other boys and girls particularly affected by the violence and conflict.”
‘The testimonies of these young Palestine refugees are inescapable reminders of the terrible cost of conflict on children. Nothing can address their needs more fundamentally than a political resolution of the current conflict.
‘In the meantime, respect for the rules of international humanitarian law must be vastly improved and assistance to these communities sustained and where possible increased. The Commissioner-General held meetings with UNRWA staff in Aleppo City and Nairab Camp, first and foremost to express his deep respect and recognition for their outstanding determination and courage over all these years of conflict: “At a time when you worried every day about your own families and their safety, you showed such resolve in standing by Palestine refugees. I wanted to come to say ‘thank you” in person,” said Mr. Krähenbühl.
‘Remarkably, over all these years and despite the grave dangers, UNRWA preserved all of its key services, including education, sometimes in its own schools, in other cases in alternative accommodation made available by the authorities, an important element of cooperation. These achievements would not have been possible without the dedication of UNRWA’s 239 Palestinian staff in Aleppo and the support they received from colleagues in Damascus.
‘In Damascus, the Commissioner-General met with H.E. Dr. Faisal Miqdad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, with H.E. Ms. Rima Al Qaderi, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, H.E. Mr. Hussein Makhlouf, Minister of a local Administration and Environment and Mr. Ali Mustafa, Director-General of the General Administration for Palestinian Arab Refugees (GAPAR). In Aleppo, he met with the Governor, H.E. Mr. Hussein Ahmad Diab.
‘These meetings were an important opportunity to discuss the situation of Palestine refugees in Syria, the need for ongoing steps to ensure their security and protection, as well as access to some of the delicate areas where Palestine refugees are located, such as Yarmouk, Khan Eshieh, Dera’a and Aleppo.
‘Mr. Krähenbühl noted with satisfaction the approval received for renewed access to Yalda, Babila, Beit Sahem and Khan Eshieh. The first mission to Khan Eshieh since December 2016 took place on 30 March, with delivery of medical and other much needed supplies.
‘The Commissioner-General also appealed for ongoing protection and respect for UNRWA’s staff, who face significant risks in their daily activities. This is a matter of utmost importance and UNRWA itself has taken several initiatives to strengthen its ability to support staff facing a diversity of security concerns.
‘The visit of the Commissioner-General to Aleppo includes a message to the world not to forget Palestine refugees in the larger picture of the Syrian tragedy: “The history of Palestine refugees over the past seven decades is filled with so many chapters of suffering. No amount of humanitarian aid will ever make up for that. Respect for their rights and dignity is what they call for.”
‘UNRWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty.
‘UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the UNRWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall.’
