By Yasmina Moussa | Staff Writer

Palestinians first arrived in Lebanon in 1948 due to the Arab-Israeli war. As they remain living in exile and statelessness, facing uncertainty for more than 70 years, it is the United Nations that has taken responsibility for their livelihood, providing essential services through the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) established in 1949. There are twelve refugee camps here in Lebanon, initially built to house the refugees temporarily. However, the camps are now overcrowded with weak infrastructure, poor sanitation, and poverty which causes frequent conflict.

The reality of Palestinian refugee women remains unaccounted for as they face three layers of discrimination: statelessness, refugee status, and sex, which makes all the difference in one’s life.

Refugee camps are not considered “safe places” for women, as they are subjected to all forms of violence. Girls often face sexual harassment and child marriage – with little protection or services. To shield their daughters from such rampant violence, families marry them off as children to have their husbands serve as protectors. Moreover, women described feeling particularly vulnerable while navigating the streets to their home. Consequently, they often feel forced to

retreat home, though their “home” can be an equally, if not more, dangerous space for women at risk of domestic abuse.

In Palestinian culture, women’s rights and empowerment are regarded as Western infiltration. As a result, anyone trying to promote and empower women risks being seen as attacking the very identity that many Palestinians feel compelled to defend – making them more resistant to change.

My Palestinian identity has been the source of my ambition, resilience, and hope for peace; more importantly, being a Palestinian woman drives me to shed light on other fellow Palestinian women living in different circumstances. A few years back, I met a Palestinian woman who was born and raised in one of the many refugee camps in Lebanon. Curiosity got the best of me, and I ended up inquiring about her experience living in a refugee camp. Prior to meeting her, I had noticed the lack of consistent research and coverage about Palestinians’ living conditions.

When I asked her about the sense of security in the camp, it seemed like a question she had become familiar with. I was expecting a detailed answer, but instead, her answer was short and brief: women actively try to avoid altercations with men, hoping to find a safe space to spend time in. I attempted to ask more about how she spends her day. That question triggered a detailed response, reflecting upon her struggle as not only a woman, but also as a Palestinian refugee. Women liked to spend much time cooking together, a skill brought with them to Lebanon and an opportunity to preserve their personalities (in a way considered lady-like and culturally fit by others) – which is why they created a personal space for women to cook and chat together, she said.

I believe that, in creating such a space, the woman created an environment that allowed her to enjoy her rights more than she is allowed to in her own home. Home has always been a place for women to practice their pre-assigned ‘role:’ to accept being a housewife and engage in stereotypically feminine activities such as embroidery, stitching, cooking, and cleaning, just to name a few.

Many might argue that creating such a space reinforces stereotypes and conformity to traditional roles. However, in reality, to many Palestinian women, that is all they know. Many never had the right to proper quality education until newer generations. A majority of refugees’ lives are defined by decisions they couldn’t control. The limited horizons of their futures disappear in the distance with no respite in sight. Because of UNRWA, the young generations are able to find some opportunities to create their future, but refugees are still treated like aliens wherever they go.

With that being said, success stories of Palestinian women refugees are plenty, but go unnoticed. Palestinian refugees remain situated at the intersection of political and economic changes, suffering from the legacy of their displacement. When the media finally talks about the pressing issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it is always focused on the politics and the leaders. It is never about the people waiting to return to their homeland. One would think that the displaced Palestinians have lost hope for their return, but it very much continues to be the essence of their identity.