Did you know that #Palestine #refugees are the largest refugee population in the world? pic.twitter.com/fI4bJ5Atdf— UNRWA (@UNRWA) November 18, 2015
Now, why could that be?
The main reason is because UNRWA has no mechanism to remove people from its "refugee" rolls. They can become citizens of other countries; they could be living in "Palestine" itself, they could be fourth generation - but as long as their ancestors (may have) lived in Palestine for a two year period from 1946-1948 and left their home, they are refugees - and their descendants remain "refugees" forever.
UNHRC refugees must prove that they fit the definition of refugee in every generation. UNRWA refugees cannot avoid being called "refugees."
A chart that I once published, I believe from Mida translated from a Norwegian blog, shows this in stark terms. The blog, called Tarud's Blog, translated the article into English and it is worth reading.
UNRWA's tweet is celebrating its ineffectiveness in helping solve the issue.
Head of the agency Pierre Krähenbühl recently tweeted about how he managed to scrounge up the funding to keep UNRWA going this year.
4. Expressed gratitude to donors & hosts for formidable support in overcoming our 2015 funding shortfall. Allowed to open schools on time.— Pierre Krähenbühl (@PKraehenbuehl) November 16, 2015
5. Now major task ahead to avoid ever facing same crisis again. We have already brought initial 2016 shortfall down from 135 to 81 M usd.— Pierre Krähenbühl (@PKraehenbuehl) November 16, 2015
6. Will resolutely combine internal measures w/ active outreach to donors to ensure financial stability. Also seek to broaden donor base.— Pierre Krähenbühl (@PKraehenbuehl) November 16, 2015
But as the chart shows, you cannot put a band-aid on the funding issue. UNRWA itself will implode in a few years if it does not change its definition of "refugee" to exclude those who are not refugees by any stretch of the imagination.
