Action Group – Yassin Tayeh
Residents of the Daraa refugee camp and Palestinian communities in Daraa Governorate, southern Syria, are suffering from poor treatment by UNRWA and its withdrawal from many of its services.
Palestinian refugees in the governorate face harsh living conditions due to the repercussions of the war in Syria ”” especially after Daraa camp was 70% destroyed ”” forcing many of its residents to flee to other neighborhoods and villages in the area. Others, lacking the means to relocate, remained in the camp under crumbling walls, unable to afford rent that rivals housing costs in Damascus.
Following UNRWA’s retreat from many of the services it once provided to Palestinian refugees, the suffering of those in Daraa has intensified. These refugees depend heavily on the agency’s aid, which has been suspended since the beginning of this year.
Residents of Daraa camp and surrounding Palestinian gatherings are calling on UNRWA to treat them on par with Palestinian refugees from Syria living in Lebanon and Jordan.
The semi-regular food assistance has ceased since early this year, along with financial support that, according to residents, was “previously being stolen” by banking institutions distributing it in coordination with regime cronies and some corrupt UNRWA employees.
Camp residents have expressed deep anger over corruption in UNRWA’s hiring system, which they say is based on favoritism and bribes, while qualified local residents are systematically excluded.
This frustration has grown stronger following the submission of what residents described as “false and unimplemented” work and achievement reports by some influential UNRWA employees in Daraa.
Voices within the camp are growing louder, calling for public gatherings and protests against UNRWA’s conduct, demanding service improvements, purging institutional corruption, and equal financial treatment to that of Palestinian refugees from Syria in Lebanon and Jordan. These grassroots protests are expected to begin this week.