Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Receive Limited Food Aid

Palestinian refugee families in Lebanon are receiving five kilograms of flour per family, as part of a recent aid program launched by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The aid, distributed in coordination with the Lebanese Higher Relief Council and supported by Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, includes a separate program for distributing bread twice a week. The flour and bread are part of a 2,000-ton flour donation from Turkey. The aid is intended to support families facing difficulties in securing food, but some refugees feel the quantities provided do not meet their daily needs, especially larger families with multiple dependents.

Refugees have expressed frustration with the limited aid, noting that the quantities do not align with their daily requirements. Abu Mohammed, awaiting his turn to receive the flour, acknowledged that the five kilograms would not be sufficient for his family of three and would not exempt them from seeking other means to meet their daily needs. He advocated for the restoration of UNRWA's cash assistance, which previously provided families with $50, allowing them greater flexibility in managing their various needs amidst rising food, medicine, and living costs.

In Beirut's Shatila camp, Ali Al-Mahoul, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Front and the camp's popular committee, highlighted the challenges faced by his family of seven, including his mother and five children. He emphasized that one or two loaves of bread are insufficient to meet their needs and called for increased rations that better align with family sizes and requirements. Al-Mahoul also pointed out that the crises faced by refugees extend beyond food to include water, infrastructure, sanitation, healthcare, and education.

He noted that the number of students in some classes has surged from around 30 to nearly 60, reflecting the pressures on educational institutions within the camps. Additionally, a 60-year-old refugee, Um Hussein, discussed the difficulties in accessing the aid, mentioning that she learned about the distribution date by chance and did not receive prior notification. She also expressed that the provided quantities do not meet the needs of families, particularly those with five or more members, despite the necessity of accepting the aid due to financial constraints.