UNRWA reopened the doors of 3 schools out of 8 in Ain al-Hilweh camp (Al Jazeera)

Beirut -

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have real fears for their fate, and fear of worsening their service, humanitarian and economic suffering, following the decision of more than 16 countries, including the United States, to stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is responsible for their care and employment, after Israel accused 12 employees of the agency participated in or supported the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023.

UNRWA was established in 1949, and was mandated by the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestine refugees registered in the Agency’s areas of operations, which include: the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, until a just and lasting solution to their plight of the Nakba and refugee crisis is reached.

For many years, Israel has tried, secretly and publicly, with the support of the United States, to stop funding UNRWA, with the aim of ending its activity, liquidating the Palestinian cause, and canceling the right of return.

These attempts reached their peak during the presidency of former US President Donald Trump, who launched what is known as the “deal of the century” and suspended financial support for the agency, which represented about a third of its budget at the time, which was estimated at about $350 million.

An inspection tour by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA (second from right) with the popular committees to ensure the readiness of schools in Ain al-Hilweh camp (Al Jazeera)

Palestinians in Lebanon

The extent of the impact of this decision on Palestinian refugees in the diaspora remains ambiguous to this point, especially in Lebanon. Their number reaches 489,292 people, according to statistics from March 2023.

About 250,000 refugees live dependent on the agency’s services in the health, educational and financial fields, while they remain deprived of their civil and human rights by the Lebanese state, as a result of the difficult political and demographic composition in the region.

Fadl Taha, head of the links and neighborhood committees in the mass action of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” in Lebanon, says, “The decision to suspend funding for UNRWA is unjustified, and raises questions about its true background, as it came suddenly and collectively without providing any logical explanation, whether from Israel or America.” Which previously presented the deal of the century and the cessation of funding as part of the idea of ​​abolishing UNRWA.”

Taha added, in an interview with Al Jazeera Net, that this decision will have negative effects on UNRWA, refugee communities, and host governments. He believes that it is “consistent with the Zionist occupation, which is committing crimes that may amount to genocide against the Palestinian people,” and points out that it came after the decision of the International Court of Justice and its call to increase humanitarian aid through the agency itself.

Taha asserts that “these countries that decided to stop funding are in line with the policy of the Zionist entity, which aims to liquidate the refugee issue and end the work of the agency as a symbol it represents. If this decision is implemented, the Palestinian refugees will become not only refugees, but displaced in various parts of the world, economically and socially.” Identity, which is unacceptable.” He expressed Hamas' adherence to UNRWA as a living witness to the refugee issue until their return and the liberation of their land.

The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Popular Committees in Lebanon, Abdel Moneim Awad, told Al Jazeera Net, “The decision includes all of UNRWA’s work areas inside the Palestinian territories and the diaspora, given that the budget is unified and distributed according to programs, emergencies and projects.”

He adds, "Even if the resolution only includes Gaza, it remains our duty to stand with its people, especially in light of the Israeli aggression characterized by genocide, and the looming threat of famine."

Awad described the countries' decision to suspend their aid as "unjust, as they did not wait for the final investigation against the accused, while the Agency's Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, rushed to take a decision to terminate the contracts of the accused on the mere Israeli charge, which we reject."

He expressed the refugees' real fears about the repercussions of this decision on their services in Lebanon, in light of the stifling living crisis, which has increased the rate of extreme poverty among them.

The Secretary of the Palestinian Popular Committees in Lebanon reminded Al Jazeera Net of Israel's constant endeavor to end the agency's work. But he stressed that “UNRWA is protected by International Resolution 302, and it can only be canceled by a similar resolution from the United Nations General Assembly.”

The decision to stop funding UNRWA will have serious repercussions on the lives of Palestinian refugees (Al Jazeera)

back to school

On the other hand, UNRWA reopened the doors of 3 schools in Ain al-Hilweh camp, after transferring its students to neighboring schools in the city of Sidon, following the recent clashes that took place in the camp between the Palestinian National Liberation Movement “Fatah” and the “Muslim Youth Gathering” on 30 July 2023, which resulted in major or partial damage.

Al Jazeera Net learned that a major debate took place between the Palestinian forces, between supporters of its reopening and those calling for caution in connection with the fragile security situation, after a series of moving problems that raised fears.

This situation prompted the agency’s director in Lebanon, Dorothy Klaus, to undertake a round of visits to listen to the opinions of local actors, before it was agreed to reopen schools with the support of the Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon, Ashraf Dabour, and “after obtaining security guarantees to maintain stability in the camp.” According to an official statement issued by the agency.

The first phase of the opening included only 3 schools out of 8, located in two educational complexes between the emergency area (Al-Fawqani Street) and Bustan Al-Quds, after clearing them of unexploded ordnance and rehabilitating them.

It is expected that the fourth school, "Marj Bin Amer," will be opened next Monday after completing its maintenance, while UNRWA has not yet received the remaining four schools due to the continued closure of the road to the emergency area.

The official of the Democratic Front in Ain al-Hilweh camp, Fouad Othman, confirms to Al Jazeera Net that "opening schools is a step towards opening all schools, and ensuring the continuation of the educational process in the camp as it was previously."

He focuses on “the efforts are being made on two axes: the first is to put pressure on the UNRWA administration to hand over the remaining schools, to prevent them from responding to maintaining the closure and delaying their reopening, according to what Director Klaus hinted at, and the second is to make efforts to reopen the road to the emergency area, as she promised.” The Fatah movement discussed it with the families of the martyrs who fell in the recent clashes.

Othman stressed that the security situation in the camp is stable, pointing to the importance of reopening schools as a way to resume life normally, and saving the costs of transportation to schools for the families of the students and UNRWA alike.

He also pointed out "the need to stop the ongoing procrastination arguments related to transferring students to UNRWA schools, in the Villas and Sidon area."

Source: Al Jazeera