Millions raised to rehabilitate camp decimated during civil war
The Palestinian Authority has raised two million dollars for the reconstruction and resettlement of the al-Yarmouk refugee camp located south of Damascus, previously home to approximately 150,000 people and once considered the capital of the Palestinian Diaspora. The camp—which currently contains only 100-200 Palestinians—was devastated during the civil war, at one point coming under the jackboot of the Islamic State terror group and otherwise plagued for years by a siege imposed by the Assad regime which has since recaptured the territory.
Al-Yarmouk was established in 1957 for Palestinians that fled their homes during the 1948 war that broke out following the creation of Israel.
“The PA deducted the [two million dollars] from Palestinian employees’ salaries,” Muneer al-Zahob, head of the Media Office of PA President Mahmoud Abbas’ ruling Fatah faction, told The Media Line. “The Palestinian leadership is responsible for all refugees around the world; therefore, it will provide them with what’s needed.”
To this end, a Palestinian delegation headed by Azam al-Ahmad visited the Syrian camp on Monday in order to gauge its condition and meet with members of the Rebuilding al-Yarmouk Committee. That body, led by Anwar Abd al-Hadi and formed in coordination with Damascus, is tasked with devising a comprehensive plan to rebuild the camp in cost-effective phases. A first financial installment has already been delivered for this purpose while a second is being prepared for transfer.
Abbas, who is expected to visit Syria soon, has showed a special interest in the camp and called on Assad to facilitate the return of the refugees while providing them with new opportunities. A statement issued on his behalf described the restoration of al-Yarmouk as a “national duty since Palestinian refugees in all places are an integral part of the Palestinian people.”
“The PA’s general orientation is to collaborate with the Syrian government to bring back the Palestinian refugees who were displaced to Jordan, Europe and other areas,” Mohammed Elyan, head of the High Committee for Palestinian Refugees, explained to The Media Line. He added that the Palestinians also are seeking to join forces with Damascus in order to counter Israeli violations.
Nevertheless, Elyan conceded that the money so far raised is insufficient to cover the total cost of renovating al-Yarmouk and should perhaps be considered a symbolic gesture. As such, he confirmed that “the Rebuilding al-Yarmouk Committee is approaching international parties to raise funds for the reconstruction.”
Finally, Elyan emphasized that while Palestinians are being encouraged to return to al-Yarmouk to bolster their identity as refugee, this in no way infringes on their so-called right of return. In this respect, the reconstruction of al-Yarmouk is viewed by the PA as a necessary message to parties perceived to be undermining or even attempting to fully eliminate Palestinians’ refugee status.
Accusations to this effect have primarily been directed at United States President Donald Trump, who last year cut-off hundreds of millions of dollars to UNRWA, the international body that provides Palestinian refugees—including those in Syria—with everything from food to schooling to medical services. Following Washington’s lead, Israel recently launched a similar campaign to end UNRWA’s operations in the eastern part of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as the capital of a future state.
In 2012, fierce clashes between Syrian forces and Sunni rebels forced most Palestinians out of al-Yarmouk. In 2015, ISIS fighters seized the camp only to be pushed out last May when Assad retook it.