In a public letter to the UNHCR published by UNRWA in June 2021, the relief agency stated that:
“UNRWA seeks funding in appeals and project proposals to support Palestine refugee children’s access to specialized educational institutions tailored to children with severe disabilities. However, as the costs for enrolment in these external institutions are high and this effort is dependent on short-term project funding, which is unstable, the availability of funding and places is not guaranteed. In addition, even if these institutions could accommodate children with severe disabilities, the scope of such external institutions in Lebanon is limited with significant waiting lists.”
(Source: UNRWA, “Letter from UNRWA to UNHCR in the case of NB and AB v. SSHD before the Court of Justice of the European Union (Case C-349/20).”, 21 June 2021, p. 5)
On their website, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a non-profit organisation that works in Palestinian refugee camps and provides frontline care, summarises the difficulties that people with disabilities face and the services that they offer to support them:
“People with disabilities face many challenges to their rights and wellbeing in the occupied Palestinian territory and in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Lack of opportunities and access to health, education, livelihood and social services compound the cycle of disability as both a cause and consequence of poverty.
Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations, particularly concerning women with disabilities, frequently go unchecked. Social isolation and marginalisation are particularly prevalent in refugee camps where many adaptations and accessible public infrastructure are not available. There are few specialised rehabilitation services available to children and adults and a general lack of awareness of the rights of children and adults with disabilities. People with disabilities became particularly marginalised during COVID-19 lockdowns and are among the most overlooked groups in emergency responses.
MAP takes a social and rights-based approach to disability. We focus on removing the barriers to participation in society by people with disabilities, which complements medical care. We provide rehabilitation support, and empower people with disabilities to challenge public perceptions of disability and break down the barriers in their communities.
Our Projects:
Support to physiotherapy centre and early intervention unit, Lebanon: In Lebanon, Palestinians with disabilities cannot access government disability services and 29% of Palestinian children with disabilities are not enrolled in education. MAP supports the Palestinian Women’s Health Organisation and Sour Community Disability Programme’s physiotherapy centre and early intervention units to provide physical rehabilitation and educational support to children with physical and mental disabilities living in refugee camps. The physiotherapy centre also provides therapy to young people, adults and elderly people with physical disabilities, and works to empower those with disabilities and their families to promote a cultural shift in community attitudes towards people with disabilities.”
(Source: Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), “Disability”)