unable to show either fear of persecution or inability to return to the country. The
CGRA stated:
Since it appears that you have provided no evidence to show that in Lebanon
you will be risking persecution as understood in refugee law, and moreover it
is determined that UNRWA registered refugees can return to Lebanon without
problems, the CGRA considers that there are no obstacles that prevent you from
returning to Lebanon and that you can again enjoy the protection or assistance
of UNRWA. In accordance with Article 1D of the Refugee Convention and
Article 55/2 of the Aliens Act you should therefore be excluded from refugee
status.
On appeal, the CCE determined that inclusion under Article 1D was based on
whether return is possible or not and whether a person who is able to return can place
himself again under UNRWA assistance or protection. The inclusion is based on the
fact that a person cannot return because of fear of persecution or because the country
obstructs return, for example because no travel documents are delivered:
The [Qualification] Directive, in particular Article 12 1(a), and Article 55/2
of the Aliens Act refer therefore explicitly to the application of Article 1D
of the Geneva Convention. Article 1D of that Treaty provides that if the
protection or assistance from organizations or institutions such as UNRWA
for any reason is terminated, the person’s assistance and legal protection
will fall under the Refugee Convention. The view of UNHCR as set out in
the memorandum of October 2009 on the application of Article 1D is that
when a person is outside the mandate of the UNRWA area, he or she no
longer enjoys the protection or assistance from agencies other than UNHCR
and consequently falls under Article 1D, second paragraph, so that person
is automatically entitled to the provisions of the Refugee Convention of
1951. This does not prevent the person who returns to the Mandate area
of UNRWA from being within the scope of Article 1D, first paragraph.
(UNHCR, "Revised Statement on Article 1D of the 1951 Convention",
October 2009, p. 8; UNHCR, "Revised Note on the Applicability of Article
1D of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees to Palestinian
refugees" October 2009 Section C. 8 and 10). In some cases, there may be
reasons why the person cannot be returned or does not want to return to the
mandated territory, such as the relevant government’s refusal to accept the
person’s return.
It is therefore necessary to determine whether a Palestinian refugee, who
falls under the care of UNRWA, can effectively re-avail himself of UNRWA’s
protection. If the country of habitual residence of the Palestinian hampers
return, this person should be recognized as a refugee without examination
under Article 1A of the Refugee Convention, since he is already a refugee
[emphasis added].465
96
465
Conseil du Contentieux des Étrangers, “Case 87475 [Dutch],” 6–7.
Handbook on Protection of Palestinian Refugees
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