BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee

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Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (2006-2007)
transport facilities, post-injury physical rehabilitation capacities and compensatory education – all this while trying
to prevent violence and economic decline from irrevocably eroding the gains of the past years and creating new costs
in the future. 102
Between November 2000 and December 2006, UNRWA made nine emergency appeals (not including a supplementary
appeal in 2002 as a result of Israel’s military re-invasion of Palestinian cities, towns and refugee camps) to the international
community for special funding of emergency operations in the 1967-occupied Palestinian territory. Average annual
contributions have covered 62% of the total of US $1 billion requested through these emergency appeals (not including
the flash appeals for Lebanon and Beit Hanoun). 103
Despite the persistent shortfall of funding raised through emergency appeals, which forced UNRWA to focus on food
aid, emergency employment creation and cash assistance, 2006 saw an improvement in donor response to the ninth
(revised and increased) emergency appeal. This might be attributable to funds being redirected as a result of international
sanctions against the Palestinian Authority and the worsening humanitarian crisis. However, UNRWA has confirmed
that “unless further contributions are received for the rest of 2006, the Agency will not be able to adequately address
the humanitarian needs of the refugees resulting from the escalating emergency situation in the Gaza Strip and West
Bank.” 104 UNRWA also launched a flash appeal for Beit Hanoun in order to rebuild or repair the 1,031 refugee shelters
that were destroyed or damaged during Israel’s destructive military operation, “Summer Cloud”. 105 The need for
emergency assistance is likely to rise significantly in 2007 as a result of the deteriorating humanitarian situation and
the continued dismantling of the foundations of the Palestinian state. 106
In 2006, UNRWA also participated in an inter-agency United Nations flash appeal as a result of Israel’s war on
Lebanon. This appeal requested support in order to provide food, kitchen equipment, sanitary items and mattresses
to 25,000 Palestinian refugees and Lebanese internally displaced persons, as well as Palestinian refugees who fled
to Syria, and refugees trapped in the south. 107
UNRWA provided emergency shelter for homeless refugee families as a result of the Israeli invasion of West Bank camps and cities in 2002. al-’Azza
refugee camp, Bethlehem, occupied West Bank. © BADIL.