15 Lebanese figures taking part in Asia aid convoy

[P F Tinmore]

BEIRUT, (PIC)-- Deeb Hijazi, the rapporteur of the national initiative committee to break Gaza siege in Lebanon, said that the number of Lebanese participants in Asia aid convoy amounted to 15 figures including doctors, and heads and representatives of humanitarian and civil institutions.

Asia convoy had started its journey from New Delhi in India and crossed Iran and Turkey and there are about 120 Asian activists in addition to others from Arab countries participating in it.

15 Lebanese figures taking part in Asia aid convoy

 

[Marc39]

Human Rights Watch: Apartheid Lebanon Oppresses Palestinians...

Lebanon has marginalized Palestinian refugees for too long," said Nadim Houry, Beirut director at Human Rights Watch. "Parliament should seize this opportunity to turn the page and end discrimination against Palestinians. Lebanon's estimated 300,000 Palestinian refugees live in appalling social and economic conditions - most of them in crowded camps that lack essential infrastructure. In 2001, Parliament passed a law prohibiting Palestinians from owning property. Lebanese law also restricts their ability to work in many areas.

Labor Minister Boutros Harb told a gathering at the General Labor Federation that, "Palestinians must be granted their basic civil rights in Lebanon..."
2009, only 261 of more than 145,679 permits issued to non-Lebanese were for Palestinians. Civil society groups say many Palestinians choose not to apply because they cannot afford the fees and see no reason to pay a portion of their salary toward the National Social Security Fund, since Lebanese law bars Palestinians from receiving social security benefits. Many Lebanese employers are also unwilling to support Palestinian workers in getting a work permit.


Reforms to labor laws to end discrimination against Palestinian refugees in all professions are essential to improving their dire situation in Lebanon, Human Rights Watch said. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the organization set up to address the needs of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and elsewhere, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have the highest proportion of special hardship cases among those in any country in the region. An extensive study by the Norwegian social welfare research organization Fafo found that just 15 percent of adult Palestinians have employment contracts. Forced to work illegally and without legal protection, Palestinians face severe discrimination in wages and hiring. Many employers pay them less than their Lebanese colleagues, or refuse to hire Palestinians.

"If there is a work shortage, they will hire you, [but] because you're Palestinian and it's not allowed, they will pay you half," one Palestinian told Human Rights Watch. As Palestinians, he added, "We are not asking for money, we are asking for the right to work, to live in dignity.

Lebanon: Seize Opportunity to End Discrimination Against Palestinians | Human Rights Watch