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With the increasing ferocity of the Israeli/American war on UNRWA, at the height of the genocidal war on Gaza, a number of civil society organizations working among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have come together to deliberate on the role of civil society in confronting this extended attack on the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their homes and properties from which they were displaced in accordance with Resolution 194, by targeting UNRWA, and insisting on dismantling it by reducing its services and searching for alternatives.

The meeting unanimously agreed on the following:

First: The decision to suspend aid to UNRWA by the United States of America and some Western countries who submit to US policy was accompanied by the continuation of Israel›s attempts to liquidate the Palestinian refugee issue, and by the continuation of its genocidal war against the Gaza Strip. It was also immediately preceded by the preliminary decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which ruled in its fourth article to ensure the provision of urgent services and humanitarian assistance to the population of the Gaza Strip. This is a clear, flagrant and immoral violation of the ICJ’s decision and the duties of those countries, based on the principles of international law and the human rights system, since UNRWA is the primary competent entity to provide services and prevent the deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Second: The decision to suspend UNRWA funding was consistent with Israel›s stated plans and intentions to exclude UNRWA completely from the so-called «next day» post-war arrangements, which are based on the following phases: filing a legal case against UNRWA, searching for an alternative, and then working to transfer UNRWA’s mandate to another international body. The devastating effects of the decision to suspend services will have catastrophic repercussions, first and foremost, on the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and on the general Palestinian refugee population in UNRWA›s areas of operation, especially in Lebanon, where Palestinian refugees are suffering from the repercussions of the protracted multi-year socio-economic crisis in the country.

For this reason, civil society organizations in Lebanon emphasize the following:

• The suspension of UNRWA funding violates the decision of the International Court of Justice and amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
• Calls on donor countries that have suspended their funding for UNRWA to retract their decision and to fulfill their obligations towards the Agency and towards Palestinian refugees.
• Affirms its rejection of the transfer of all or some of the functions and powers of UNRWA to any other international or local institution, and affirms its adherence to the Agency and its mandate as stipulated in the resolution establishing UNRWA at the United Nations General Assembly.
• Announces the preparation for a local, regional and international advocacy campaign to uphold UNRWA and the Palestinian refugee cause, which will be launched and announced at the earliest time possible.

Palestinian NGOs in Lebanon

Beirut, 8 / 2 / 2024

Strengthening the role of feminist CSOS Working in the implementation of the women, peace and Security Agenda (WPSA)

Kindly note that the last date for submission is 21-08-2023

Burj Al-Barajneh, Association Najdeh received; the Ambassador of Spain in Lebanon, Dr. Jesus Santos Agado, alongside his accompanying team, the Director of the Palestinian Program in UNICEF, Mr. Nazih Yacoub, Ms. Heba Abu Rashid, and the representative of the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) Mr. Mahmoud Al-Adawi, and their accompanying delegation.

The delegation was received by Ms. Buthaina Saad, Deputy Director of Association Najdeh, projects and programs and the association’s team. The visit came within the framework of inspecting and following up a project ‘Supporting protection services for children, women and families in Palestinian camps and gatherings.’ 

The delegation toured the Centre for Education and Psychosocial Support and the delegation participated in activities for a group of children on equality between boys and girls, as well as other activities.

In conclusion interventions were made on the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

On the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, the Forum of Institutions and Associations Working in Palestinian Centres reiterates the continuation of the Palestinian people in their struggle until their return to their villages and cities, from which they were displaced from in 1948.

The Palestinian people, in all their places of existence, today, May 15, commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nakba of Palestine. This is represented by the occupation of more than three quarters of the area of historic Palestine, the destruction of 531 populated cities, and the expulsion and displacement of about 85 percent of the Palestinian population, forced to flee to neighbouring countries and areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, coinciding with their displacement around the world. 75 years of the Nakba and Palestinian people continue their struggle against the Zionist project, declaring their commitment to their land, stressing the importance of achieving its national goals of the right to return, self-determination, independence, and sovereignty.

The continuation of the Zionist occupation is riddled with the looting of land, building settlements, demolishing houses, committing massacres in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and desecrating Islamic and Christian sanctities. As well as, the undeniable prevalence of policies of Judaisation of the city of Jerusalem tied in with isolating it from its Palestinian and Arab surroundings. Therefore, on this occasion, the “Forum of Institutions and Associations” Working in the Palestinian Centres in Lebanon, emphasises the commitment of the Palestinian people in the struggle to restore their national rights, foremost of which is the right of return.

The Zionist occupation and its extremist and racist, fascist government bear full responsibility for its heinous crimes and escalating terrorism against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the entire West Bank, Jerusalem, the holy Dome of the Rock Mosque, and the active occupation of Palestine. It also holds the international community responsible for the continuation of the obstacles put in place after the Nakba, in regards to the occupation and its crimes against humanity. Showing how  Palestinian people continue in all forms of struggle, fighting in the face of the Zionist project. At the forefront of which is the Sharm el-Sheikh – Aqaba security project, and security, economic and normalisation projects in the region, until its legitimate national goals are achieved.

The “Forum of Institutions and Associations” pays tribute to the steadfast and resistant Palestinian people on their land in the homeland and the diaspora, especially in the Palestinian territory of Gaza and Jerusalem, as well as in the various cities in the West Bank and the Gaza strip, appreciating the Palestinian struggle and great sacrifices in order to restore their legitimate rights, until the occupation is defeated and reaches its demise, once and for all, with the Palestinians achieving their right to return.

Every year on March 30, the Palestinian people commemorate the Eternal Earth Day, the occasion that has taken root over the years to become Earth Day and to defend it, and the Palestinians have stepped up their movement in commemorating Earth Day year after year, to emphasise the day, on its 47th anniversary, their adherence to their land and survival in it. On the occasion of the 47th Earth Day anniversary, the “Forum of Institutions and Associations Operating in the Palestinian Centre in

Lebanon” and civil institutions and associations in the camps organised activities to commemorate Earth Day in Palestinian

camps and gatherings in Lebanon. Activities during this day included a solidarity stand and a march where Palestinian flags were raised, along with banners emphasising their right of return to the lands from which Palestinians were displaced, the names of the occupied Palestinian towns, Heritage and folklore activities to enhance the Palestinian memory and narrative of Earth Day and emphasise the right of return and revive the Palestinian national heritage, and a group Iftar for Ramadan. This was met with a wide public participation from across the spectrum of society.

Beirut, within the framework of interactive capacity building, the Association Najdeh conducted a multi-stage training workshop on the methodology of “learning through action”. It is a modern educational method based on motivating the young and old to learn through first-hand experience, this includes research, decision-making, conflict resolution, and free expression through various means, including, writing, Artistic expression (activities and games related to the topics raised), dramatic expression (taking up roles), songs, dances, storytelling, etc. The training was attended by the volunteer team and youth committees in the Women and Girls Rights Program, and the training was facilitated by coach Fadi Dabaja.

Ain Al-Hilweh camp in south Lebanon, the social affairs team at Association Najdeh completed the distribution of food parcels which included essential food supplies such as oil, flour, dates, and rice etc. Reaching over 1,022 families in the camp, the food parcels enable families to better prepare for the holy month of Ramadan and alleviate their constant concern with their ability to provide food for themselves and their families during the days of fasting, in order to enhance the resilience of refugee families in Palestinian camps and gatherings in Lebanon. with support of CAFOD agency, as part of Association Najdeh’s ongoing campaign campaign for the holy month of Ramadan ‘From you to Them’.

Dbayeh, Mount Lebanon: Association Najdeh received a delegation from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in the United States of America. This included; Rev. Gabe Ailbouni, director of the Church’s Middle East and North Africa Department, Ms. Mary Ann Slewinski, Director of “Resilience Societies” in the church, Pastor Dr. Mitri Al-Raheb, President of Dar Al-KalimaUniversity College of Arts and Culture in Bethlehem, Ms. Jessica Lindbergh Al-Dik, Regional Representative of the Swedish Church, and Ms. Mervat Slater, Program Officer at Christian Aid Lebanon and their accompanying delegation.

The delegation was received by Ms. Leila El-Ali, Director of Association Najdeh, and head of the projects and programsteams. The visit came within the framework of strengthening partnership and cooperation in initiatives to enhance community resilience within the project, “Empowering communities affected by the crisis to implement projects in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon”. Which seeks to enhance the steadfastness of Lebanese, Palestinians, and Syrians through the use of common skills and experiences to organise them and enable them to support themselves and bring about sustainable positive change. The conditions experienced by the region were discussed at various economic, social, and health levels, after the delegation had toured the alleys of the camp, witnessing the conditions. This resulted in interventions being made on the situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.