UNRWA-AUB SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY OF PALESTINE REFUGEES IN LEBANON

Contributed by Franklin Lamb

This project is funded by the European Union

UNRWA-AUB SOCIO-ECONOMIC SURVEY OF PALESTINE REFUGEES IN LEBANON

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in collaboration with the American University of Beirut conducted in summer 2010 a socio-economic survey on a representative sample of 2600 Palestinian refugee household. This initiative that was funded by the EU, aims at describing the living conditions and welfare status of Palestine refugees in Lebanon. The survey's results will help UNRWA understand better the levels of poverty and its determinants, and provide relevant indications for evidence-based programming.

The main results of the Survey were as follows:

1. Demographics:

• 53% of refugees are women

• Average age of Palestinians 30 years

• 1/2 of the population is <25 years

• Average household size is 4.5

• 2/3 of the Palestinians live in camps

• 1/3 live in gatherings

• 1/2 of the Palestinians live in the South (Tyre and Saida)

• 1/5 live in the North and 1/5 in Beirut

• 4% live in the Beqaa

2. Poverty Levels:

• 6.6% are extremely poor i.e cannot meet their essential daily food needs (compared to 2% amongst Lebanese).

• 66.4% of Palestine refugees in Lebanon are poor i.e cannot meet their basic food and non-food needs (compared to 35% amongst Lebanese).

• Poverty is higher for refugees living inside camps than those in gatherings.

• More than 81% of all extremely poor refugees are in Saida and Tyre.

• 1/3 of all poor live in Tyre.

3. Employment:

• 56% of Palestinians are unemployed

• 38% of the working age population are employed

• 2/3 of Palestinians employed in elementary occupations (like street vendors, work in construction, agriculture) are poor

• Employment has a small impact on reducing poverty but a large impact on reducing extreme poverty.

4. Education:

• 50% of youth in Secondary school age (16-18) are enrolled

• High dropout rates and insufficient skills combined with significant labour market restrictions hamper refugees’ ability to find adequate jobs.

• Educational attainment is a good predictor for household socio-economic status and food security.

• Poverty rate is significantly higher when the head of household has a low education (primary and below).

• 8% of the Palestine refugee population at school age (7-15) is not enrolled in any school in 2010.

• 6% of Palestinians are University degree holders (20% for the Lebanese)

5. Food Insecurity:

• 15% of Palestinians are severely food insecure and are in acute need of food assistance.

• 63% describe some food insecurity

• A quarter or more of households consume inadequate amounts of fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat

• Unhealthy dietary habits are common:57% eat sweets frequently and 68% consume sweetened drinks and this increases the burden of chronic diseases

6. Health:

• A little less than a third of Palestinians are estimated to have chronic illnesses.

• 4% have a functional disability

• All households with a disabled head of household live in extreme poverty

• 21% stated that they experience depression, anxiety, or distress

• 95% of the population is without medical insurance (UNRWA provides free of charge primary and secondary healthcare to Palestinians in Lebanon)

• A case of acute poverty may push a household into poverty

7. Housing conditions:

• 66% of the houses suffer from dampness and leakage thus resulting in psychological and chronic illnesses.

• Bad housing in concentrated in the South.

• 8% of households live in shelters where the roof and/or walls are made of corrugated iron, wood or asbestos

• 8% live in overcrowded conditions (more than 3 people in one room)

UNRWA’s response

• The Agency will use the results of this survey as a key advocacy tool in raising awareness with interlocutors – including donors, the Lebanese government and NGO partners - over the plight of the Palestinians in Lebanon. In doing so UNRWA hopes to demonstrate the very real need for additional funds to address some of the priority issues highlighted by the survey.

• The survey will lead to readjustment of UNRWA programming – including its Social Assistance Programme – across the board to ensure geographical areas in greatest need are targeted first. UNRWA will also launch specific programmes and campaigns to address, for example, lack of awareness in the camps over nutrition and healthy eating.

• The employment of Palestinians remains a key issue that UNRWA will continue to lobby for. We will support the employability of Palestine refugees through strengthening our vocational training opportunities for youth and seeking to launch a Job Creation Programme, should funding be secured.

• Finally, recognising that UNRWA alone cannot hope to address all of these problems in a meaningful way, UNRWA will seek to expand its partnerships with other organisations as well as the Lebanese government to ensure the challenges are tackled through a common approach.

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