Finding a solution to the plight of millions of Palestinian refugees is the key to peace in the Middle East, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, believes.
"UNRWA has no political role, but it does have the moral role of reminding all parties involved and all governments with a say in the peace process that there will be no peace without a fair solution for refugees in line with UN resolutions," the agency's Commissioner General Filippo Grandi told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday, February 18.
Millions of Palestinians fled or were forced out of their homes when “Israel” was created on the rubble of Palestine in 1948.
UNRWA also defines as refugees the descendants of those who became refugees in 1948.
The number of registered refugees has subsequently grown from 914,000 in 1950 to more than 4.4 million in 2005, and continues to rise due to natural population growth.
Third of them live in 58 recognized refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
"It is tragic that the international community has not yet found a solution to this problem," lamented Grandi. "The situation has been the same for 60 years now, and today we speak of fourth-generation refugees.” "Without a solution, this will only continue."
UN resolutions guarantee the right of return of Palestinian refugees, many still holding the keys and titles of their homes in what is now Israel.
But like its predecessors, the government of hawkish Premier Benyamin Netanyaho wants Palestinians to give up the right of returning to their homes in what is now Israel.
Cash-strapped
Grandi complained that his cash-strapped agency can not offer the most basic needs to the Palestinian refugees. "UNRWA remains 100 million dollars short of its budget for 2010."
The UN agency has made an appeal for 450 million dollars to rebuild Nahr Al-Bared camp near the northern port city of Tripoli, which was almost leveled to the ground in clashes between the Lebanese army and Fatah al-Islam militants in 2007.
Some 400 people, including 168 Lebanese soldiers, were killed in the fighting and about 30,000 residents were displaced.
UNRWA has only received 120 of the 450 million dollars needed to rebuild the camp and the surrounding areas.
"The money we have right now covers the reconstruction of only three of eight camp sections destroyed," Grandi asserted. "We also need relief funds for the basic needs of the camp residents urgently. What we have now will run dry by May or June."
Grandi has urged Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to find a solution for the legal employment of Palestinian refugees.
The Lebanese constitution bans Palestinian refugees from obtaining citizenship, owning property or entering some professions, adding insult to their injuries.
According to UNRWA figures, Lebanon is home to nearly 400,000 refugees, most of them live in 12 destitute camps across the country.
They get 12-15 percent of UNRWA's total annual budget, which tops 600 million dollars.
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