UNRWA in crisis
5 May 2010
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is in a crisis as some countries have announced that they stopped funding the organization, while the population in Lebanon's refugee camps increases. Refugees have been complaining for years about the lack of quality health services and infrastructure in the country's 12 camps. NOW Lebanon sat down with the head of UNRWA in Lebanon, Salvatore Lombardo, to discuss why the situation is as bad as it is.
You have been visiting the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon ever since you took office. What is your assessment of the situation there?
Salvatore Lombardo: It is sad to see the deplorable and unacceptable conditions the Palestinians live in today, especially from the socio-economic aspect, which is very visible. To give you an example, in comparison with other [branches of UNRWA] we have in Lebanon the highest number of what we call "special-hardship cases", which is "the poor of the poor". We have 50,000 people in this situation, 20 to 30 percent of the [Palestinian] population, who live in deplorable poverty conditions. This is the highest percentage compared to all other [areas].
Why is there such a situation in Lebanon and not in other Arab countries hosting Palestinian refugees?
Lombardo: There are different reasons. One is obviously their lack of access to socio-economic rights, the right to work especially. It's true that a number of Palestinians work informally, but the lack of social security, the low payments, the lack of a recognized wage… This certainly has an impact on them. And then there is obviously the procrastination of the situation that has been going on for a long time; there is nothing being done to improve their situation.
An improvement of the situation of the Palestinians would be an improvement for Lebanon too, because if you add a group of individuals who live in better conditions and they're happy, you'll have an improvement in the situation in the country.
Another factor is that there hasn't been a solution for 60 years. And the right of return, which represents the absolute priority for everyone - the Palestinians, the Lebanese and for us as well - is not there. The stagnant peace process… This is certainly not helping to see a solution nearby; on the contrary.
How does this affect the funding for UNRWA?
Lombardo: We have to say that we're privileged to have had for so many years a steady group of donors, such as the European Commission and the United States, who have been contributing on a regular basis... What has changed and what has made our situation problematic is the population [growth], while the donors stay the same. So if you have the same amount of money for four or five years and the population increases by 10 percent, this affects your services.
We are also engaged in a reform of our programs. We are now injecting probably much more than we were doing before.
How does this affect the population?
Lombardo: Let me give you an example. We have a doctor in a clinic, receiving 100 patients per day... Adding another doctor is a financial issue; it costs $50,000 or $40,000 per year. If today you ask me "do you have the luxury to do that?" I can tell you that I can make an exception; I can squeeze some money in there. But I can't do this systematically.
There are countries that announced they are stopping funding to UNRWA, such as Canada, which stopped sending money at the beginning of 2010. What are the reasons?
Lombardo: Canada's decision was unfortunate. Canada has recently contributed funds to the Nahr al-Bared reconstruction program. I think it's related to political orientation [the current conservative government]. Canada has been going through a review of their engagement with the United Nations. But there is a lot of controversy in the public, and I believe that chapter has not been closed yet. Canada was one of the most important funders, and I really hope that will continue.
It's been 60 years, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is at a stalemate. What is the future of UNRWA?
Lombardo: I don't think, as far as I know, there is any ambiguity about the mission of the organization. We were created to provide services for the refugees while in exile. There is no desire that I have seen to stop that until finding a dignified solution for the right of return is ensured. I don't see frankly any change. We are here to serve the Palestinian population the best that we can.
