Syria | Action Group
In an open letter, Palestinian activists in Syria addressed an urgent appeal to the senior leadership of UNRWA, foremost among them Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, raising serious humanitarian concerns related to the deteriorating living conditions of Palestinian refugees and the urgent need to reform the agency’s operational mechanisms in Syria.
The letter confirmed that Palestinian refugees in Syria are experiencing “one of the most difficult humanitarian phases in their history,”noting that accumulated crises, combined with the absence of fairness in the distribution of aid, have led to “an unprecedented state of pain and suffering inside the camps.”
While welcoming the recent international decision guaranteeing the continuation of UNRWA’s mandate until 2029, the message stressed that this extension “will have no real impact unless accompanied by fundamental reforms in oversight mechanisms, the activation of accountability, and efforts to curb corruption that has become evident in certain aspects of UNRWA’s work in Syria.”
The letter ”” addressed to Philippe Lazzarini and his deputies Antonia Marie De Meo and Natalie Boucly ”” outlined five urgent demands:
1. Strengthening oversight of aid distribution inside Syria.
2. Launching transparent and clear investigations into any suspicions of corruption or waste.
3. Ensuring that aid reaches only eligible beneficiaries, without mediation or favoritism.
4. Involving civil society and community leaders inside the camps in monitoring distribution processes.
5. Improving media communication mechanisms to reassure the public and clarify facts.
The message concluded by emphasizing that the goal is to “protect what remains of the dignity of the Palestinian refugee in Syria and guarantee the right to live in dignity and safety,”expressing confidence in the leadership’s ability to take “bold steps that restore trust between refugees and UNRWA and put an end to years of suffering.”
UNRWA’s operations in Syria continue to face widespread criticism among Palestinian refugees, particularly regarding financial assistance, which has become “the primary concern for tens of thousands of Palestinian families who continue to ask a daily question: Why has the aid stopped, and what is the real reason behind depriving people of their right?”
Activists also highlighted that some UNRWA staff and directors in Syria receive monthly salaries ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, a matter that many refugees consider a misappropriation of funds that they believe should be directed toward humanitarian aid rather than administrative privileges.