The Plight of Palestinian Refugees: A Humanitarian Crisis and Global Responsibility

By Shyla Gheek / GICJ

The war in Gaza has caused the displacement of over 1.9 million people. Since 7 October 2023, internal and external unnatural fleeing of homes has taken place, in some cases multiple times, in the Gaza Strip to enclave shelter from the violence within the State. Numerous stories of displaced families reveal the anguish experienced by those in Gaza, like Palestinian woman Sabreen Lushan, who has endured forced displacement 14 times in just one year. Her repeated uprooting highlights the relentless instability and trauma faced by families under constant threat. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that around 1.2 million people are internally displaced and left without a home, with 180,700 people seeking refuge in 978 shelters, of which 775 are at total capacity.

The refuge issue extends beyond the shelters built within the State and towards the efforts and assistance of bordering countries and other nations. The Palestinian President declared that the entire world should take responsibility for what happens to the people of Gaza and the West Bank. States, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, have absorbed waves of Palestinian refugees, providing shelter during the previous conflicts in 1948 and 1967. However, current geopolitical dynamics, internal pressures, and strained resources have made it increasingly difficult for those countries to accommodate further influxes of displaced people. 

This evolving refugee crisis highlights not only the human toll of the conflict but also the broader strain on neighbouring countries and the international community. The complexity of this issue is not only the immediate need for relief but also the ongoing geopolitical impasse surrounding the plight of the Palestinian people.

Background

Displacement is an all-too-familiar reality for the people of Palestine. The experience of displacement is deeply embedded in their history, with the current crisis echoing the mass dispossession of the Palestinian people in 1948. The creation of Israel was marked by significant violence, resulting in the large-scale displacement of the Arab population. That year, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their homes in an event known as the Nakba, meaning "catastrophe" in Arabic. The Nakba has had lasting repercussions for generations affected by the loss of homes, land, and identity. 

On 17 May 2024, the Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Cheikh Niang, made a statement that the Nakba of 1948 and today’s Nakba in Gaza are not two separate events. The prolonged nature of this displacement underscores the enduring nature of the crisis and the immense challenges faced by the Palestinian people in seeking stability and justice. 

With a loss of home, their country and identity, these refugees have migrated to and remained on foreign soil. Over the years, countries bordering Palestine have shared the responsibility of supporting displaced Palestinians and easing the burden of the refugee crisis. There are 2.5 million Palestinian refugees, with the majority living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank itself. Approximately 6 million Palestinian refugees are scattered across the region, primarily in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Nearly one-third of these refugees live in 58 recognised Palestine refugee camps located in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Most refugees reside in camps where they have sought shelter for decades and are supported by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), established in 1949. It has been instrumental in providing essential services and assistance to displaced Palestinians.

Role of UNRWA

The United Nations plays a crucial role in addressing the needs of Palestinian refugees, mainly through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The responsibility of UNRWA in Palestine refugee camps is limited to providing services and administering their installations. Palestine refugee camps are plots of land allocated by host governments, majorly in the Gulf region, to accommodate refugees and provide necessary facilities. The Agency does not own, administer, or police the camps, as this is the responsibility of the host authorities.

UNRWA supports approximately 6 million Palestinians and serves as the primary humanitarian organisation in Gaza. The agency employs more than 30,000 Palestinians. Overall, it contributes to the local economy and delivers essential services to the refugee population.

António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, powerfully stated that the Middle East is a powder keg with many parties holding the match. Over the past few years, one of the key ways many States have aided the Palestinian refugees has been through their funding of UNRWA. In 2022, the top donors to UNRWA were the United States, Germany, the European Union, Sweden, Norway, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Turkey. Strikingly, in late January of 2024, UNRWA has faced significant funding challenges. Allegations that 12 UNRWA staff members were implicated in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel led to the suspension of funding from several key contributors, including the United States, Germany, and Switzerland, followed by Canada in March 2024. Phillipe Lazzarini (UNRWA chief) viewed this step as “additional collective punishment” for the Palestinians.

The funding cuts to UNRWA have had a profound impact on Palestinian refugees, significantly reducing their access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and food aid. As UNRWA is the primary humanitarian provider for millions of Palestinians, the cuts have led to overcrowded schools, shortages in medical supplies, and limited social services in refugee camps. The financial strain has also jeopardised emergency relief efforts, leaving many families even more vulnerable in the face of ongoing conflict and displacement. These reductions in aid exacerbate the already dire living conditions for refugees, further deepening their hardship.

Refugee Policies: Assistance and Hesitation 

Jordan

Jordan plays a significant role in hosting Palestinian refugees, with around 2.4 million registered individuals—nearly half of the total Palestinian refugee population—residing within its borders. This leads Jordan to have the largest number of Palestinian refugees. Approximately 20% of Jordan’s population is Palestinian, with many individuals holding full citizenship rights. Moreover, Jordan has made notable strides in upholding the principles established by Arab states in 1965, which asserted that Palestinians should enjoy rights comparable to those of citizens in their host countries. 

For many refugees in Jordan, the camps were seen as a temporary solution, with the hope of returning to their homeland still deeply ingrained. However, the situation for Palestinian refugees in Jordan intensified after the 1967 Middle East War, during which an additional 300,000 Palestinians fled to the country, primarily from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Currently, UNRWA provides services to 10 refugee camps in Jordan, supporting the needs of these displaced populations. However, the country has recently refused to accept more refugees, a decision rooted in concerns that Israel may seek to implement a permanent expulsion of Palestinians, thereby undermining the Palestinians’ demands for statehood. This complex scenario underscores Jordan's pivotal yet precarious position in the ongoing Palestinian refugee crisis. Leaving thousands of Palestinians at the borders of their State, running out of places to run to and feel safe. 

Egypt

As the first Arab country to establish peace with Israel, Egypt has historically played a significant role in mediating between Israel and Palestinian factions, particularly during conflicts in Gaza. The Rafah corridor has served as a vital lifeline for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza since the onset of the conflict. However, Egypt faces its challenges, currently grappling with a spiralling economic crisis while hosting approximately 9 million refugees and migrants.

Recently, the Egyptian President expressed concerns regarding the ongoing war, stating that the conflict appears to be aimed not only at combating Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip but also at pushing civilians to migrate into Egypt. This potential influx raises apprehension for Cairo, as the country does not want to exacerbate a complex security situation in a volatile region. Furthermore, similar to other Gulf countries, Egypt is keen to avoid being seen as complicit in what some observers describe as ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Though Egypt has declined to officially accept refugees from the Gaza Strip, more than 100,000 Palestinians have crossed the border into the country since Israel's offensive began following Hamas's attack on 7th October 2023. Many individuals face a unique predicament; while they have managed to enter Egypt, they are not formally classified as refugees, making them ineligible for most forms of international aid. Leaving them stranded in a foreign land without the refugee status and the critical assistance and support they need. 

Lebanon

Lebanon has seen multiple waves of Palestinian refugees, resulting in a stateless population of roughly 270,000 individuals who live in 12 camps scattered across the country. UNRWA offers vital support and services within these camps. Despite providing refuge, Palestinians in Lebanon endure systemic discrimination, and the community, along with its leaders, constantly faces the threat of Israeli attacks. Israel expanded war into Lebanon on the eve of their one year of war in Palestine, increasing fear of providing refuge to the Palestinian people. 

Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) urges the international community to prioritise the urgent needs of Palestinian refugees amid the devastating circumstances they face. As highlighted by the Secretary-General, “in the face of catastrophic conditions, UNRWA preserves” essential humanitarian operations in Gaza. However, many humanitarian goals remain unmet due to inadequate funding. UNRWA is the backbone of these operations, and Member States must provide the necessary resources to ensure its effective functioning. We call on all UN Member States to open their borders, provide adequate funding to UNRWA, and assist in the safe movement of refugees. By taking these essential steps, the international community can demonstrate its commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis and supporting the rights and dignity of the Palestinian population.

References

• https://www.unfpa.org/occupied-palestinian-territory#
• https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/10/1155501
• https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1155011 
• https://news.un.org/en/interview/2024/09/1154386 
• https://press.un.org/en/2024/gapal1467.doc.htm
•  https://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees
• https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2024-01-05/explainer-the-complicated-plight-of-palestinian-refugees
• https://www.unrwa.org/palestine-refugees