NATICK, United States — The Nakba, or “catastrophe,” and Palestinian refugee rights have been ongoing points of conflict at the United Nations since 1947, according to Congress. In an effort to continue recognizing the Nakba, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., introduced a resolution in the House on May 14. If the House approves the resolution, 1.9 million Palestinian refugees living in poverty would receive social services through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Here are three ways the Congress resolution to recognize Nakba in Palestine fights poverty.
3 Ways the Resolution Fights Poverty
- Recognition
- Education
- Supporting Refugee Rights
Recognizing Nakba as a Historical Event
The Congress resolution to recognize Nakba states that it is policy to remember the struggles that came with the Nakba, according to Congress. The House also recognizes that there are multiple generations of Palestinian refugees, anchored into international law. As a solution, the House would continue to fund the UNRWA to recognize Nakba in Palestine to fight poverty.
“As we mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, we honor all of those killed since the ethnic cleansing of Palestine began,” Tlaib said in a press release. “This immense trauma, including the loss of their loved ones and connections to the communities they grew up in, needs to be repaired.” In a previous resolution from Dec. 8, 1949, the United States voted in favor of establishing UNRWA, according to Congress. According to UNRWA, the organization has registered more than 5.9 million Palestinian refugees. Outside of registered refugees, there have been more than 19 million health visits, including 13.1 million medical consultations, since October 2023. Between July 20 and 26, UNRWA provided at least 65,000 health consultations. Seven health centers and 27 medical points are still operational.
Educating the Public About Nakba
The Congress resolution to recognize Nakba encourages educating people about the event, according to Congress. Education means understanding Nakba’s relevance to modern-day refugee crises. While there is no specific number of people who have been educated about the Nakba, there are resources where the public can learn independently. One resource is Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), an organization that fights for the liberation of all people. To educate the public about the Nakba, JVP offers a seven-part curriculum called “Facing the Nakba.” The course offers tools for individuals who want to learn about the history of Palestine and Israel.
JVP has been around for 30 years, envisioning a world—from the United States (U.S.) to Palestine—where everyone lives in freedom, equality, dignity and justice. With their mission, JVP also believes in rights for Palestinian refugees living in poverty.
Implementing Palestine Refugee Rights
Established on Dec. 11, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 gave Palestinian refugees the choice of repatriation or compensation, according to the Economic Cooperation Foundation (ECF). The resolution was introduced by the United Nations (UN) mediators Folke Bernadotte and Ralph Bunche, during the Israel-Palestine conflict. Following the resolution, France, Turkey and the U.S. were named as members of the Conciliation Commission. The resolution supports the UN’s initiation of Palestinian refugees’ human rights, according to ECF. The initiation signifies Congress to continue negotiations over the Arab-Israel conflict. Bernadotte and Bunche hoped that the UN would see refugees as equals to end destruction on Palestinian land and restore the homeland.
From Resolution to Solution
If Congress agrees to a resolution recognizing the Nakba, the public will better understand the significance of the event. According to the Michelsen Institute, the UNRWA has become the main source for poverty relief for Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA relies heavily on donor funding, and it spends 41% of its budget in Gaza, according to the Michelsen Institute. Increased awareness could lead to more funding for UNRWA, allowing the agency to provide greater assistance to refugees.
– Casey Chan-Smutko
Casey is based in Natick, MA, USA and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons