As the International Day of Peace has been celebrated across the globe, Palestinian refugees continue to struggle with the trauma inflicted by the ten-year warfare in Syria.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

Data by the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) indicates that heavy onslaughts by the Syrian and Russian forces have caused heavy damage to over 75% of civilian homes and structures in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, namely Yarmouk, Daraa, AlSabina, and Handarat.

A tough blockade imposed on Yarmouk and Daraa by Syria’s pro-government forces led to an acute dearth in water and medicine. At least 205 Palestinians, mostly children and elderly civilians, were pronounced dead due to undernourishment and medical neglect.

At the same time, thousands of Palestinians have been targeted in abduction sweeps launched by the warring parties. AGPS has documented the secret incarceration of 1,797 Palestinians and the death of over 600 others under torture in Syrian government jails.

Scores of Palestinian refugees have also been driven out of their homes and sought shelter in over-crammed makeshift camps, including the poorly-equipped Deir Ballout Camp, north of Syria.

More than 55 Palestinian refugees from Syria have died, meanwhile, onboard migrant boats bound for Europe.

The situation has gone far worse due to the fragile legal status of the Palestinians of Syria. Holders of Palestinian-Syrian travel documents are banned from entering neighboring and European countries. Those who manage to reach such territories as Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt are often subjected to mistreatment and refoulement.

Thousands of Palestinian children have also been denied the right to education, forcing hundreds of them to drop out of school and fetch low-paid jobs to assist their impoverished families.

As many as 4,047 Palestinians from Syria have died of war-related incidents during the ten-year conflict. 333 others have gone missing, according to AGPS statistics.