Ministry of Women's Affairs Publishes Report on the Reality of Palestinian Refugees

SadaNews - The Ministry of Women's Affairs has published a report on the occasion of World Refugee Day, which falls on June 20, titled "Palestinian Refugees: Prolonged Displacement, Renewed Displacement, and Targeting of UNRWA," highlighting the reality of Palestinian refugee women amid the ongoing Israeli occupation, which is accompanied by continuous forced displacement, targeting of camps, and undermining the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), exacerbating the suffering of women and girls and threatening their basic rights.

Minister of Women's Affairs Mona Khalili stated that the issue of Palestinian refugee women is no longer just about prolonged displacement, but has become a symbol of renewed displacement and systematic violations targeting women and girls and their right to protection and dignity. She emphasized that the continued targeting of camps and undermining the work of UNRWA multiplies the burdens on women and necessitates urgent international action to ensure their protection and hold the occupation accountable for its crimes.

The report indicated that the number of Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA had reached about 5.91 million by the end of 2024, including 2.91 million women and girls who constitute 49.1% of the total registered refugees. Moreover, refugees make up 42.2% of the population of the State of Palestine, with about 1.7 million refugees living in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 1.9 million people, almost 90% of the population of the Strip, have been displaced since the onset of the aggression, which has doubled the humanitarian, economic, and social burdens on women, especially in light of the loss of shelter, a decline in health and educational services, and an increase in the risks of violence and exploitation.

The report also reviewed the conditions of refugee women in the West Bank, where the targeting of camps in the northern West Bank has led to the displacement of up to 40,000 people, with about 32,400 displaced individuals remaining by the end of 2025, in addition to the serious impact of targeting UNRWA in Jerusalem and the West Bank on the basic services that women and girls depend on.

The Ministry of Women's Affairs renewed its call to halt forced displacement policies, ensure the continuity of UNRWA's mandate and funding, and integrate the needs of refugee women and girls into all humanitarian response, recovery, and reconstruction plans to ensure the protection of their rights and enhance their resilience.