In our previous publication from March 27 regarding the Palestinians in Lebanon, an error occurred in the wording of the data, which could have been understood as implying that an updated census of the Palestinians in Lebanon had allegedly been conducted. This is not the case, and we wish to clarify the updated details.
In 2024, UNRWA in Lebanon launched a digital verification process for Palestinian aid recipients, aimed at ensuring that those receiving assistance indeed reside in Lebanon. The process was implemented gradually, starting with the elderly and later expanding to additional age groups. Upon completion of the verification process, UNRWA’s director in Lebanon, Dorothee Klaus, announced that 222,000 Palestinians were registered in Lebanon, including 27,000 Palestinian refugees who had arrived from Syria. However, it was emphasized that this number does not necessarily reflect the actual situation, as many Palestinians did not participate in the digital verification process.
Following the publication of the data, a widespread controversy arose, with Palestinian factions casting doubt on the figures and claiming that many refrained from registering due to security concerns, lack of awareness, or no need for assistance. The primary fear is that the published number will be used to reduce humanitarian aid, particularly amid the economic and political pressure exerted on UNRWA. According to UNRWA’s data as of the end of 2023, the number of registered Palestinian refugees in Lebanon stood at 493,201, alongside 31,400 Palestinians from Syria.
According to a study conducted in 2017 by the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee in collaboration with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of Palestinians in Lebanon was estimated at only 174,422. The Palestinians live in 12 official “refugee camps” and 156 Palestinian concentration areas. Approximately 45.1% of them are under the age of 24, while 4.7% are over the age of 65. The unemployment rate among them stands at 23.2%, and the poverty rate reaches 65%.
The main and well-known concentrations of the Palestinian population are Rashidieh, Burj al-Shemali, and al-Bass in Tyre; Ein al-Hilweh and Mieh Mieh in Sidon; Shatila and Burj al-Barajneh in Beirut; al-Beddawi and Nahr al-Bared in Tripoli; and al-Jalil in the Bekaa.
The numerical discrepancies mentioned above, over a relatively short period of years, highlight the gaps between the various estimates over time regarding the true number of “local” Palestinians in Lebanon. These varying estimates also include Palestinians who arrived in Lebanon from Syria due to the civil war that took place there, which further contributes to the confusion in the numbers.
We do not know the extent to which the above data is accurate. Based on the information known to us, the number of “local” Palestinians in Lebanon is estimated at around 200,000.
