Palestinian refugee children in Lebanon are still suffering due to the difficult economic conditions, which have increased exponentially in recent times due to the Corona pandemic and the closure of schools for more than a year, the Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London said.

This came in an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food held as part of the 49th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (from 28 February to 1 April, 2022).

PRC said that Palestinian refugee children to work in harsh conditions and labor, where they are exposed to bad treatment and a lot of exploitation.

PRC referred to reports issued by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees "UNRWA" which indicate that the number of Palestinian refugee children in Lebanon is more than 60,000, representing more than 30% of the Palestinian refugees. Most of Palestinian refugee children are unable to enroll in Lebanese schools.

“Poverty spreads among Palestinian families in refugee camps in Lebanon by 73%, which is nearly three-quarters of the Palestinian refugees, who live below the poverty line. This has led children to search for job opportunities to obtain an income to support their families to secure a livelihood”, warned PRC’s speaker.

PRC voiced its deep concern about the situation of the Palestinian refugee children in Lebanon and stressed that what children are exposed to in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon contradicts the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which combats child labour and economic exploitation.

PRC called on the Human Rights Council to work on supporting Palestinian refugee children during these difficult times.

“The need for financial, medical, and humanitarian assistance has become more urgent than ever. Urgent actions should be taken to meet the humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon”, PRC concluded.