as daily laborers and/or in the informal labor market.19 These groups typically lack savings and are often ineligible for social security coverage. Moreover, reports from legal aid providers show that Palestinian refugees working in all sectors have often been disproportionally affected and tend to be the first group of employees to be let go of, primarily due to their relative lack of labor protection. As one of the largest employers of Palestinian refugees in the region, UNRWA has suspended the salaries of those working in the daily fare system. Since Palestinian refugees living in refugee camps often live in abject poverty, the loss of livelihoods means that many families are currently struggling to obtain basic necessities, and reports have indicated that Palestinians risk falling into acute food insecurity as a result of the crisis.20 Education Although the educational systems of host countries and UNRWA schools have launched an extensive distance learning program for Palestinian refugees, many children experience difficulties in continuing their education, as e-learning curricula have been difficult to implement in camps due to limited internet and computer access.21 Moreover, Palestinian refugees tend to live in large family households in small houses and cramped conditions, and the absence of privacy and child-appropriate discipline risks leaving little ‘room’ for concentration. Economy Although few studies are currently available on the economic impact of COVID-19 in the region, existing data indicates a substantial economic impact on all national economies, leading to an increase in unemployment, government budget deficits and a higher cost of living.22 The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be substantial, and 4 the IMF has predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic will result in “the worst recession since the Great Depression.” Considering that the economies of states in the region are already encountering major economic challenges and budget deficits, the impact the pandemic has on economies will have ramifications that are likely to be difficult to bear, particularly by vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and refugees. This is certainly true for Palestinian refugees, who already witness significant poverty and unemployment levels in all host states. Humanitarian services One of the greatest risk of COVID-19 is a decrease in humanitarian and development aid, which will compromise access to essential services provided by INGOs and NGOs. Various humanitarian actors have launched emergency responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing Palestinian refugees with critical support, including cash assistance, medical supplies and PPE. To meet the increased needs of beneficiaries during the COVID-19 crisis, UNRWA has launched an emergency flash appeal of $93.4 million. Despite widely circulated campaigns, the UNRWA flash appeal remains underfunded. In addition, access to aid services has been compromised by, inter alia, government lockdown orders, a lack of adequate resources, and periods of violence and incursions into Syria and in occupied Palestine. Moreover, difficulties in mapping certain groups of vulnerable Palestinian refugees – most notably PRS dispersed across Jordan and Lebanon, in and outside camps – and in providing them with humanitarian services, remain. Looking forward, the decrease in humanitarian and development aid in the region would be particularly worrisome for Palestinian refugees, as the main provider of humanitarian services – UNRWA – is already suffering from deepening budget