Europe | Action Group
In a move emphasizing the centrality of the Right of Return for successive Palestinian generations, Palestinian activists and human rights advocates have issued an urgent call to Palestinian refugees in Europe and the diaspora””especially those from Syria who have acquired citizenship in host countries””to take the initiative in registering their children and grandchildren born abroad with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The call underscores the importance of this action as a primary means of preserving the Right of Return across generations. New generations born far from their ancestral land may lose their official status as “Palestinian refugees” if they are not registered in UNRWA’s records.
According to legal experts, such registration serves as a living document that embodies the historical and legal bond to Palestinian refugee identity, and reinforces the claim of future generations to their right of return.
Registration can be done using the family’s UNRWA card from the original host country (such as Syria, Lebanon, etc.). If travel is not possible, a relative residing in one of these countries can be authorized to complete the process on their behalf.
For those married abroad without a personal registration card, it is possible to obtain a “white UNRWA card”using their parents’ card and registration number. This allows them to register their children thereafter. To facilitate the process, the call highlights the availability of the e-UNRWA mobile application, which can be downloaded on smartphones.
Given the obstacles that may arise when registering from abroad””particularly difficulties in direct communication with some UNRWA offices (such as the one in Austria)””the proposal includes the formation of volunteer Palestinian legal committees in each country of exile.
These committees would work with UNRWA to develop recognized procedures for registration in each country, and disseminate this information as widely as possible to ensure accessibility and ease of implementation for all.
The call clearly warns that failure to register newborns will result in these children losing their legal refugee status, which poses an existential threat to the inherited Right of Return. It would also gradually undermine UNRWA’s capacity to represent the full Palestinian refugee population across generations.
The appeal concludes with a heartfelt plea for all Palestinians to widely share this information, recognizing the critical importance of this step in preserving Palestinian identity and rights for future generations.