Back to Contents An article published by UNRWA highlighted the dire situation of those who reside in camps: “UNRWA is urgently seeking to help Palestine refugees by providing them with emergency cash assistance in US dollars and a strengthened COVID-19 response to limit the spread of the virus in camps. It is also seeking funds to finish the reconstruction of the Nahr el Bared refugee camp in the north of the country near Tripoli, which was destroyed in 2007 when fighting broke out between the Lebanese Armed Forces and Fatah al-Islam, a militant group. [...] Even before the pandemic and the financial meltdown of Lebanon, Palestine refugees lived in poverty and faced systemic restrictions that limited their employment, property ownership and, at times, movement. Joblessness has been high in Palestine refugee camps for many years, but the collapse of the Lebanese economy in the last few months has left many of them feeling desperate, especially as UNRWA has been struggling with an acute financial crisis itself. COVID-19 has been the latest in a series of recent devastating blows to a community that has suffered marginalization and uncertainty for decades.” (Source: UNRWA, “UNRWA Raises Alarm on the Situation of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon”, 1 April 2021) Based on an assessment by WFP, UNDP Lebanon projected that: “The expectation is that more Lebanese families will be prepared to take on lower-quality jobs with worse conditions that previously were assumed by refugees, leading to anticipated tensions between Lebanese and non-Lebanese communities as it has been the main driver of tensions in the past.” (Source: UNDP/UN Lebanon “Rapid Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Lebanon”, 2 November 2020, p. 11) The UNRWA Protection brief offers a wider overview of current challenges faced by Palestine refugees living in Lebanon. “• Palestine refugees in Lebanon face substantial challenges to the full enjoyment of their human rights. PRL are socially marginalized, have very limited civil, social, political and economic rights, including restricted access to the Government of Lebanon’s public health, educational and social services and face significant restrictions on their right to work and right to own property. In 2016, 65 percent of PRL lived under the poverty line, as did 87 percent of PRS in March 2020. • The conflict in Syria has not only caused additional strain on services within Lebanon, but has also significantly impacted its economy. The fragile financial situation was most recently exacerbated by the depreciation of the Lebanese Lira and the global COVID-19 pandemic. The significant financial challenges facing Lebanon have had deep socio-economic consequences for both Lebanese and non-Lebanese residents. This includes a significant impact on the Palestine refugee population, already vulnerable due to their poor socio-economic situation and precarious legal status in the country. • COVID-19 hit Lebanon in the midst of an economic crisis, where inflation and their precarious legal status had already made many refugees even more vulnerable to economic shocks. As in many other countries, containment measures including lockdowns further hindered economic activity and resulted in increased unemployment and poverty. In Lebanon’s already fragile financial situation, this has led to an increase in prices of consumer goods and an overall increase in the cost of living, in turn leading to an increased number of refugees who are in urgent need of financial support to be able to purchase essential items such as food and medicine, pay their rent and avoid evictions. […] • The social, political and economic situation in Lebanon deteriorated further in 2020, marked by street protests, the COVID-19 outbreak and associated measures such as lockdowns and successive confinements, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of regular life and education. These developments have increased the levels of mental distress and exacerbated the protection risks especially for children and women. An increase of child labour, including begging, rubbish collection and working regularly on the street, , and increased cases of child marriage, child abuse and harassment and violence against girls and women have been observed during the pandemic. In addition, although the Palestinian community was not directly affected by the 4 August 2020 blast in the port of Beirut, the tragic events have impacted all residents in the country, exacerbated mental health and psycho-social support (MHPSS) needs, and are expected to add to the growing tensions and the economic crisis.” (Source: UNRWA: “Protection brief: Palestine refugees living in Lebanon”, September 2020) 9. Access to labour market, means of basic subsistence 104