6000 PALESTINIAN REFUGEES MOVE FROM SYRIA TO JORDAN

       Gaza City, 4 Rajab 1434/14 May 2013 (MINA) – Since  the start of the internal conflict between the Syrian regime army and  opposition two years ago, around 6,000 Palestinian refugees have left Syria to Jordan while around 50,000 others went to Lebanon, a group reported.

       The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria has said that the refugees fled war-torn Syria after shelling and shooting targeted their refugee camps. Al Ray reported on Monday (13/5) as monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

      The report mentioned that the Palestinian refugees in Syria are living under harsh conditions and suffering of high prices and the shortage in foodstuff and bread.

      The United Nations Agency warned of increasing numbers of Palestinian refugees in Syria who have been killed, injured or displaced and appealed to all sides to resolve the conflict through dialogue and political negotiations.

        In Syria, UNRWA is mandated to provide health, education, and relief and social services to more than 486,000 Palestine refugees living in nine official and three unofficial camps. While Palestine refugees enjoy many of the rights of Syrian citizens, including access to social services provided by the Syrian government, development indicators reveal that they lag behind the host population in key areas, such as a higher infant mortality rate and lower school enrolment figures. Palestine refugees in Syria, like all Palestine refugees, remain a vulnerable population and live in uncertainty with regard to their long-term future.

        Most of the Palestine refugees who fled to the Syrian Arab Republic in 1948 were from the northern part of Palestine, mainly from Safad and the cities of Haifa and Jaffa. A further 100,000 people, including Palestine refugees, fled from the Golan Heights to other parts of Syria when the area was occupied by Israel. A few thousand refugees fleeing war-torn Lebanon in 1982 also took refuge in Syria.

        The ongoing political situation in Syria has affected the economy. The consequent decrease in value of the Syrian pound, increase in cost of basic commodities, and the shrinking job market have impacted the Palestine refugee community. (T/P04/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)