THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF PALESTINIANS IN LEBANON

In: Journal of refugee studies, Band 10, Heft 3, S. 378-397

Abstract

THIS PAPER IS A COMPILATION OF FOUR SEPARATE CONFERENCE PAPERS, COVERING HOUSING, UNEMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND HEALTH. THE LEGAL DIMENSION, THE NEGLECT OF THE PLO AND THE REDUCTION IN AVAILABLE FUNDING ARE COMMON STRANDS RUNNING THROUGH THE FOUR PAPERS. UNRWA, WITH ITS INSTITUTIONAL AND BUDGETARY LIMITATIONS, IS THE PRINCIPAL GUARANTOR AGAINST FURTHER DECLINE IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF PALESTINIANS IN LEBANON. FOR BOTH PRACTICAL AND POLITICAL REASONS, MOST OF THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE CONCEIVED WITHIN THE AGENCY'S FRAMEWORK. ALL THE PAPERS DEAL WITH SOCIAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS, SINCE LEGAL ISSUES PERMEATE EVERY SOCIO-ECONOMIC LEVEL. THE PAPERS CHALLENGE THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT TO ANNUAL RESTRICTIONS, TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DIMENSION OF THE PALESTINIAN PRESENCE IN LEBANON. PALESTINIAN CAMPS ARE SEEN AS SOCIAL SPACES THAT NEED TO BE IMPROVED, UPGRADED, EXPANDED BUT NEVER ISOLATED OR DISBANDED. THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION OF THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION, IN THE FORM OF THE PEACE PROCESS, IS ALSO ADDRESSED BY ALL THE WRITES. FOR THE PALESTINIANS IN LEBANON, THIS IS SHOWN TO BE A PROCESS WHICH HAS CREATED A NO-WIN SITUATION AND ONE WHICH HAS ONLY SERVED TO EXACERBATE THEIR SUFFERING AND HARDSHIP.