BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights is an independent, community-based non- This edition of the Survey of Palestinian Survey of Palestinian Refugees and profit organization mandated to defend Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons BADIL Internally Displaced Persons 2010-2012 and promote the rights of Palestinian (Volume VII) focuses on Palestinian Vol VII 2010-2012 refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Survey of refugees and IDPs. Our vision, mission, 124 Pages, 30 c.m. (IDPs) in the period between 2010 and ISSN: 1728-1679 programs and relationships are defined 2012. Statistical data and estimates of the by our Palestinian identity and the size of this population have been updated Palestinian Refugees principles of international law, in in accordance with figures as of the end Editor: Nidal al-Azza particular international human rights of 2011. This edition includes for the first law. We seek to advance the individual time an opinion poll surveying Palestinian Editorial Team: Amjad Alqasis, Simon and collective rights of the Palestinian refugees regarding specific humanitarian and Randles, Manar Makhoul, Thayer Hastings, services they receive in the refugee Noura Erakat people on this basis. camps. Demographic Statistics: Mustafa Khawaja BADIL Resource Center was established The need to overview and contextualize in January 1998. BADIL is registered Palestinian refugees and (IDPs) - 64 Internally Displaced Persons Layout & Design: Atallah Salem with the Palestinan Authority and years since the Palestinian Nakba Printing: Al-Ayyam Printing, Press, (Catastrophe) and 45 years since Israel’s legally owned by the refugee community Publishing and Distribution Conmpany represented by a General Assembly belligerent occupation of the West Bank, including eastern Jerusalem, and the 2010 - 2012 composed of activists in Palestinian Gaza Strip - is derived from the necessity national institutions and refugee to set the foundations for a human rights- community organizations. based approach through which a just Volume VII and durable peace can be achieved. ofSurvey Not only do Palestinian refugees and IDPs constitute the largest and longest- Our work is implemented by two standing unresolved case of refugees and specialized units - the campaign and displaced persons in the world today, but Refugees Palestinian resource units - and guided by a their numbers continue to grow in light of Cover photo: Beit Jibrin (al-Azzeh) refugee camp Israel’s policies and practices, resulting in in Bethlehem, 2009 (©Reem Mazzawi/BADIL). Board, and supervised by an Oversight more forcible displacement of Palestinians Committee, both of which are elected on both sides of the 1949 Armistice Line from the General Assembly. (in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory). All rights reserved BADIL has consultative status © BADIL Resource Center This Survey endeavors to address the for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights with UN ECOSOC, a framework lack of information, misrepresentation partnership agreement with UNHCR, of, or misinformation about Palestinian P.O.Box: 728, Bethlehem, Palestine and is a member of Palestinian refugees and IDPs. The authors of this and Tel-Fax: +972-2-274-7346 Human Rights Organizations survey undertook a professional review of Website: www.badil.org Council, al-Awda Right-to-Return the methodology used to determine and/ Internally Displaced Persons Coalition (USA), BDS Campaign or estimate, as accurately as possible, the current Palestinian refugee and IDP National Committee, HIC-Habitat population. The authors reviewed and Intatnational Coalition (Cairo), updated existing statistical data, including CRIN-Child Rights Information findings from the 2007 census conducted Network (UK), ICVA-International in the oPt by the Palestinian Central Council of Voluntary Agencies Bureau of Statistics; latest reports and statistics of the United Nations Relief and (Geneva), ICNP-International Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Coordinating Network on Palestine, the Near East (UNRWA); and the best OPGAI-Occupied Palestine and available data published by host countries Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy and other international and Palestinian Initiative, and PNGO-Palestinian concerned institutions and organizations. Hundreds of historical, legal, socio- NGO Network. economic, and political supplementary 2010 - 2012 sources have been used to collate, analyze and document the phenomenon of ongoing forced displacement and related statistical, legal and political matters. BADIL has consultative status with UN ECOSOC i ii Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons 2010 - 2012 Volume VII BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency & Refugee Rights BADIL has consultative status with UN ECOSOC iii BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency & Refugee Rights Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Vol VII 2010-2012 124 Pages, 30 c.m. ISSN: 1728-1679 Editor: Nidal al-Azza Editorial Team: Amjad Alqasis, Simon Randles, Manar Makhoul, Thayer Hastings, Noura Erakat Demographic Statistics: Mustafa Khawaja Layout & Design: Atallah Salem Printing: Al-Ayyam Printing, Press, Publishing and Distribution Conmpany Cover Photo: Beit Jibrin (al-Azzeh) refugee camp in Bethlehem, 2009 (©Reem Mazzawi/BADIL). All rights reserved © BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights P.O.Box: 728, Bethlehem, Palestine Tel-Fax: 972-2-274-7346 Website: www.badil.org iv About This Survey This edition of the Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (Volume VII) focuses on Palestinian refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the period between 2010 and 2012. Statistical data and estimates of the size of this population have been updated in accordance with figures from the end of 2011. For the first time this edition includes an opinion poll surveying Palestinian refugees on specific humanitarian services they receive in the refugee camps. The need to overview and contextualize Palestinian refugees and (IDPs) - 64 years since the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe) and 45 years since Israel’s belligerent occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip - is derived from the necessity to set the foundations for a human rights- based approach through which a just and durable peace can be achieved. Not only do Palestinian refugees and IDPs constitute the largest and longest-standing unresolved case of refugees and displaced persons in the world today, but their numbers continue to grow in light of Israel’s policies and practices, resulting in more forcible displacement of Palestinians on both sides of the 1949 Armistice Line (in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory [oPt]). This Survey endeavours to address the lack of information, misrepresentation of, or misinformation about Palestinian refugees and IDPs. The editors of this survey undertook a professional review of the methodology used to determine and/or estimate, as accurately as possible, the current Palestinian refugee and IDP population. The editors reviewed and updated existing statistical data, including findings from the 2007 census conducted in the oPt by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS); latest reports and statistics of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA); and the best available data published by host countries and other international and Palestinian concerned institutions and organizations. Hundreds of historical, legal, socio-economic and political supplementary sources have been used to collate, analyze and document the phenomenon of ongoing forced displacement and related statistical, legal and political matters. Nonetheless, in the absence of systematic monitoring and comprehensive registration of all displaced Palestinians, it remains difficult, and is sometimes impossible, to produce accurate statistical data reflecting the phenomenon. In such cases, the best available illustrative data is provided. BADIL Resource Center has published the Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons since 2002. This edition provides an overview of the demography of Palestinian refugee and IDP populations and their trends within the last two years. Although, this survey is built upon previous editions, it differs in content, length and format. We are confident to say that although the 2010-2012 edition is shorter than previous installments, it is a richer resource. In this regard, the current edition can be considered a comprehensive coalescence of 10 years of vital work and momentum aimed at developing the survey’s imperative substance. This revision provides stakeholders, duty bearers and researchers with a publication fulfilling their interests on the one hand and, on the other hand, contribution to a human rights-based approach by exploring durable solutions to the longest and largest unresolved refugee case worldwide. This survey: Attempts to present the most accurate statistical data derived from the most reliable sources. The methodology applied in collecting, introducing and analyzing statistical data and estimates enhances the reliability of calculations. Furthermore, the survey avoids providing vague and inadequately supported information; Contains a new chapter (Palestinian Refugees Opinion Poll on International Humanitarian Assistance) reflecting refugees’ perspectives on central issues relevant to their ongoing plight. Incorporating this chapter is