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DEPARTMENT OF REFUGEE AFFAIRS (DORA)
Goals and Duties The Department of Refugee Affairs (DORA) is a
central Department of the Palestine Liberation Organisation
(PLO.) The Department was activated in accordance with a resolution of
the Palestine National Council (PNC) in its twenty-first session held in The PLO has striven to guard and maintain the
Palestinian identity and the protection of the rights of the refugees despite
their dispersion in the various countries of their residence, as well as
protecting them from the continuous attempts of absorption and
resettlement. It is therefore on this basis that DORA has worked
towards implementing the official policies according to the following basic
principles: 1. Supporting Palestinian refugees in the
various places f their residence through the co-ordination of official
efforts with the Arab Host Governments, as well as concerned departments in
the Palestine National Authority (PNA.) 2. Supervising the Refugee Portfolio
regionally and internationally through participation in related official
conferences and meetings, in order to clarify the official policy of the PLO
as well as the point of view of the refugees themselves in regard t their
rights and their insistence on their right of return, and the realisation of their minimum aspirations.
Participation of DORA in the negotiations on the refugee issue would be on
the basis of adhering to international resolutions, particularly UNGA
Resolution 194, as any solution that does not fulfil
these aspirations would be lacking in substance and would not lead to peace,
but would create a state of instability in the region. 3. Co-operation and co-ordination with the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) and follow-up of the services it renders to the refugees in the Arab
Host Countries, paying special attention to the conditions prevailing in the
various refugee camps, assisting n their development and the
improvement of the standards of living, while relieving the suffering of
the refugees residing in them. UNRWA was established by UN Resolution
N. 302 to provide services to Palestinian refugees registered with it in the
fields of education, health and social services. In the last few years, UNRWA has implemented
austerity measures that have left their clear mark on the level and quality
of these services. These measures were due to UNRWA's
limited financial resources and the inadequacy of donor contributions
compared to the volume of its growing financial requirements caused by
inflation, as well as natural demographic growth. DORA's
position regarding UNRWA's role is based on the
following: -Ensuring the continuation of UNRWA and its
services to the refugees in accordance with UNGA Resolution No. 302 of 1949,
by which it was created, as well as ensuring that it does not deviate from
its true goals. -Urging donor countries to provide financial
support to UNRWA to enable it to fulfil its
obligations to the Palestinian refugees. -Insisting on the continuation of UNRWA and its
performing duties towards the refugees, while rejecting the proposal for
transferring its duties to the PNA and the Arab Host Countries, and rejecting
its dissolution before the refugee issue is resolved justly and
comprehensively. -Co-ordination with the Arab States to prevent
the dissolution of UNRWA activities serving the refugees residing in them,
and to increase their financial support of UNRWA, particularly from the Arab
Gulf States in order to broaden the base of contributions as well as to
compensate for any reduction in international financial support for it.
For example, according to UNRWA reports, Arab contributions have been reduced
from 7.8% of its budget in the 1980's to less than 2% now. -Maintaining a balance and meticulousness in the
relationship with UNRWA and encouraging it to broaden the base of its
services and developing them to meet the increasing needs of the refugees. In order to realise
these goals, DORA performs the following duties: 1. Interaction with refugee communities in
and outside camps in order to properly perceive their problems and
requirements. 2. Identification of the obstacles the
refugees confront in dealing with UNRWA. 3. Handling and treatment of problems UNRWA
faces daily in the camps. 4. Co-ordination with UNRWA's
administration and assisting it in identifying the vital needs of the
refugees. -Follow-up and analysis of the various UNRWA
reports. -Follow-up of issues concerning UNRWA employees. -Follow-up of administrative development and
strategic planning programmes as well as the
activities of the Policy Analysis Unit. -Follow-up of donor and host country conferences. DORA's
interest in the refugees and their camps is not merely for political
activation, but in order to reduce the harshness of life in those camps and
the suffering of the people, while realising
security on all levels. DORA has always been aware of the importance of
improving living conditions in the camps, which are lower than the acceptable
minimum. This requires efforts to raise the standards and improve these
conditions in the various educational economic and social fields, but
particularly in the area of infrastructure. DORA's work
plan was directed towards improving conditions in the camps in co-operation
with UNRWA on any level where improvement is possible, as well as in fields
not under UNRWA's jurisdiction; establishing
projects, and mobilising support for services,
while maintaining the identity of each camp and the national rights of the
refugees of return and self-determination. The work plan started under the headline of
"Emergency Aid - A Project for Every Camp", projects bein implemented in co-operation with the Palestinian
Ministry of Public Works. The plan was expanded to include a different
type of priority projects implemented with the co-operation of the
Palestinian Water Authority and the Ministry of Local Government. Other
projects were completed with the co-operation of the Palestinian...... (PECDAR) as well as others with the Programme for Social Development, the Ministry of Local
Government and the World Bank, as well as other local, Arab and international
institutions. These projects come under the description
of infrastructure and service projects, from repairing or reconstructing
water supply, sewage and electrical supply networks, building retaining
walls, supplying equipment, building clinics, kindergartens and youth centres, and paving roads. These various projects
have now reached a total of 89. Relations with the PNA and official institutions: - Co-ordination with municipalities that abut on
camps within a single geographic environment in order to utilise
the capabilities of these municipalities in areas of life that do not fall
within the area of UNRWA services. - Despite of the special relationship with the
PNA, its ministries and institutions, this relationship is similar to that
with governments of the refugee host countries. -Co-ordination and co-operation with those
concerned in this area of work in Relationship with the Arab States: 1- Co-ordination
and co-operation with the Arab countries hosting Palestinian refugees and
displaced persons in order to prevent unilateral action, or through their
agreements with 2- Encouragement of the Arab States to grant
Palestinians all rights, residence and work permits, educational
services and free education, as well as the freedom of movement while waiting
for the implementation of the right of return. 3- Co-ordination
and co-operation with the Arab States for the prevention of decisions
affecting human rights, such as expatriation or mass
expulsions. 4- Starting intensive dialogues with the Arab
States to organise agreed conditions for the
refugees in these states, removing the ban imposed by some governments
on the relations between the Palestinian Refugees and their representatives,
as well as demanding full rights for the Palestinians in these countries
barring absorption and resettlement. Relations with Non-Governmental Organisations: Such relations are for the purpose of supporting
the permanent right of return, and for the provision of humanitarian and
developmental assistance for the refugee camps by civil institutions, and for
the support of the right of return to - Encouragement of international non-governmental
organisations to cooperage on the subject of the
refugees, particularly with Palestinian civil societies. - Support of effective and comprehensive
co-ordination between Palestinian civil institutions on the one hand, and
international non-governmental organisations on the
other. -Co-ordination of financial support with
Palestinian non-governmental organisations. Encouragement of Arab civil institutions to
support their Palestinian counterparts in Palestinian refugee communities. Leila Deeb |
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