§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are registered with the United Nations RWA (Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East); what is their estimate of the actual numbers in individual camps; and what is the present United Kingdom contribution to the UNRWA programme. [HL206]
§ The parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)According to UNRWA, there are 373,000 registered Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, of whom 208,000 live in refugee camps. However, it is widely believed that the actual number of Palestinian refugees remaining in Lebanon is considerably lower than the official figures and that the actual figure is around 150,000 to 200,000. The UK has contributed £10 million to UNRWA's General Fund for 2001. In June, we agreed to provide a further £5 million, of which £3 million was to support the General Fund budget deficit and £2 million for the UNRWA emergency appeal. This brings the UK's total contribution to the emergency appeals to £10 million since November 2000.
§ The Earl of Sandwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What evidence they have that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon will be fully consulted in any final peace settlement under United Nations Resolution 194; and what actions they are taking to achieve this. [HL207]
§ Baroness AmosWe support UN General Assembly Resolution 194 which calls for the right of return and compensation for Palestinian refugees. A permanent solution to their plight can only be achieved as part of an agreement on final status. We continue to encourage and support the parties in their search for a negotiated agreement. Though this at present seems a remote prospect, there is no alternative vision that can provide lasting security, peace with justice and prosperity for all peoples in the region. In this process it is primarily for the Palestinian negotiators to take due account of the refugees themselves in Lebanon and elsewhere. We maintain regular contact with Palestinians throughout the region, as with all the other parties.