Situation of Palestinian Refugees Exacerbated by Coronavirus Outbreak in Lebanon

Situation of Palestinian Refugees Exacerbated by Coronavirus Outbreak in Lebanon

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

The situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon has been exacerbated by the movement restrictions, closure of vital facilities, and curfew imposed by the Lebanese authorities to prevent a further propagation of COVID-19.

Activists have warned that in case the virus rocks Palestinian refugee camps, the situation is likely to reach a point of no return as the vast majority of Palestinian families are cash-stripped.

In response, Palestinian refugees along with NGOs and UNRWA staff have embarked on sterilization campaigns as part of their fight against coronavirus in refugee camps in Lebanon.

The UN has identified Palestinian refugees in Lebanon as one of the most marginalized and poorest communities in the region as they continue to face high marginalization, making them heavily reliant on humanitarian support to cover their basic needs. The socio-economic hardships and unrest experienced by the country have compounded the refugees’ already dire living conditions.

The majority of the Palestinian refugee population in Lebanon live in poverty and are unable to meet even their most essential food requirements.

The refugees’ vulnerability is further compounded by their precarious legal status. The lack of a valid legal status, often coupled with outdated civil registration documents, results in severely restricted freedom of movement for refugees in Lebanon due to fear of arrest, detention or forced deportation.

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