Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies UNRWA and Palestinian Refugees UNRWA and Palestinian Refugees Introduction This chapter examines the legal situation of Palestinian refugees, assessing the main differences from other refugee situations, and the consequences of these differences.i The chapter explores the central role of the United Nations (UN) and its subsidiary agencies, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Palestinian refugee problem, especially on the right to durable solutions. The unique character of the Palestinian refugee problem relates to the UN’s ongoing involvement in Palestine. Since 1945, the UN’s obligations towards resolution of the Palestinian refugee problem have rested on the Charter of the United Nations; its legal commitments to the majority population in Palestine prior to Partitionii; and its partial responsibility for the flight or expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the wake of the conflict following the Partition plan of UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution (Res.) 181(II) (29 November 1947) (see Akram and Lynk, 2011:502). 1