Palestinian Refugees and The Middle East

Palestinians have had refugee status for over 76 years. Currently, there are third and fourth generations of Palestinian refugees. They make up one of the largest and oldest refugee group in the world, with 6.0 million refugees registered with UNRWA.*

Palestinian refugees are legally defined as people whose normal place of residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948, who lost both their homes and means of livelihood because of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.  

One-third of the registered Palestinian refugees, over 1.5 million, live in 58 refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

 *Source, UNRWA, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.

Our Mission

Beirut and Beyond provides assistance to Palestinian refugee communities across the Middle East. Our partnership with Palestinian-led organizations involves providing them with necessary support, including funding, projects, resources, and manpower. In the United States, our primary focus is to educate on Palestinian refugee narrative. We are committed to advocating for the rights of Palestinian refugees.

We set up an emergency fund for Lebanon. Our partners on the ground are working tirelessly to meet the needs of Lebanese and Palestinian communities. Palestinian Civil Defense is responding to crises in Bourj Al-Barajneh Camp and the south suburbs of Beirut. Ahlam Lajea is feeding over 250 displaced families. Join us in supporting their critical services TODAY! Go to our GIVE PAGE to give a tax-deductible donation NOW! Put Lebanon in the memo!

Palestinian Civil Defense (PCD) coordinates with Lebanese Civil Defense to respond to devices attack and a month of carpet bombing in Beirut. They have been working around the clock searching for survivors, putting out fires, and transporting the injured to hospitals.

We have sent PCD $30,000 the past two months because of your donations! But more is needed!

Palestinian Civil Defense (PCD) Palestinian Civil Defense (PCD) is an emergency services network that provides emergency services for Bourj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut. This is the first time in 75 years that Palestinian refugee camps have had access to firefighters and paramedics. PCD has also provided services outside of the camps to the country of Lebanon. PCD is working with Lebanese Civil Defense to fight forest fires in the mountains of Lebanon. In August 2020, PCD went to the site of the Beirut blast to rescue those caught under the rubble. During the COVID pandemic PCD was responsible for sanitizing the camps, transporting patients, providing awareness, and distributing face masks. They also provided burial services for refugees who died of COVID. They are the only independent stakeholder in Palestinian refugee camps and are able to operate with all political parties in all areas of the camps. Follow them on their Facebook page.

Ahlam Lajea launched a meal program for displaced families from the south. Over 250 families, both Lebanese and Palestinian, have come into Shatila and Bourj al-Barajneh camps and surrounding areas  in Beirut the last few days.

In September, Alhlam Lajea used their community kitchen to provide meals that fed 1000 people in Shatila Camp, Bourj al-Barajneh Camp, Sabra and Jalool areas. This is a start, they plan to provide food, mattresses, and essential items to these families. More are expected to arrive. 

Ahlam Lajea Association (ALA) is a non-governmental organization established by five young Palestinian graduates from Shatila camp in Lebanon. ALA delivers services in Palestinian refugee camps in the areas of education, protection and inclusion, governance, cultural initiatives, sports projects, Gender-Based Violence prevention, Palestinian Civil Defense, and Solid Waste Management Projects. With over 200 full-time employees, ALA supports and benefits more than 1500 annually individuals through its various programs. Please follow them on Facebook. 

Our focus is not political, it is to serve and benefit Palestinian refugee communities who are in need. It is to share Palestinian refugee stories so they are known. It is important for us not to create more barriers in a complicated, painful conflict. But to build bridges so others can experience this community as I have. So, you too can see the beauty and dignity of Palestinian culture. 

Join us in building a brighter future…together. 

Suzann Mollner, Executive Director

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