The plight of Palestinian refugees in Daraa Camp, located in southern Syria, is intensifying daily as living conditions deteriorate and basic services decline, making life unbearable. The absence of income sources and ongoing economic pressures have exhausted the residents, prompting them to protest for better living conditions.
Residents confirm that their daily lives have become increasingly harsh, with difficulties in securing basic necessities such as food and medicine, alongside a noticeable decline in health and educational services.
Details of the Situation
Daraa Camp is situated in the heart of the city and was established in 1950 to accommodate Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their homes following the Nakba of Palestine in 1948. Today, the camp houses approximately 11,500 refugees, according to local estimates, making it one of the oldest Palestinian settlements in the region.
Abdullah Al-Hassan, a resident of the camp, states that conditions have reached unprecedented levels, noting that the cessation of financial and food aid for over a year and a half has exacerbated poverty and food insecurity among most families. The shortage of medications and rising surgical costs have further increased the suffering of the residents, forcing patients to seek treatment in the private sector.
Background & Context
Daraa Camp was established as part of an international response to the Palestinian refugee crisis, but conditions have deteriorated rapidly in recent years, especially with the spread of economic and political crises in Syria. The camp suffers from a severe shortage of essential services, threatening the lives of its residents and increasing their suffering.
The halt of assistance from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has significantly impacted the lives of refugees, as financial aid was estimated at around $30 per person every three months, but this has been suspended for over a year and a half.
Impact & Consequences
Pressure on the residents is mounting, leading them to organize protests demanding improved services. Activist Iyad Flaha pointed out that the protests came after several attempts to communicate their demands through official channels, but they did not receive any effective response.
The UNRWA Director of Operations in Syria, Amani Michael Ebe, expressed concern about the humanitarian situation, noting that the primary reason for the decline in aid is a severe funding shortfall, as the agency has only been able to secure 10% of the funding required for its humanitarian programs.
Regional Significance
The situation in Daraa Camp exemplifies the humanitarian crises faced by many regions in the Arab world, where economic and political crises intersect with humanitarian conditions. These circumstances could exacerbate crises in the region and increase pressures on neighboring countries.
In light of these conditions, Palestinian refugees in Daraa Camp hope that these protests will prompt the agency to take urgent steps to restore the minimum living standards and alleviate the suffering of thousands within the camp.