Human rights of Palestine refugees in Lebanon – Special Rapporteur (Ziegler)HRC second session – Report

IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF

15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL”

Human rights in Lebanon

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler,

on his mission to Lebanon.

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I.  INTRODUCTION

1. The Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler, visited Lebanon from 11 to 16 September 2006 upon the invitation of the Government and in accordance with his mandate established by Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2000/10 and 2001/25 (which extended his mandate to include the question of drinking water) and as transferred by the by General Assembly in resolution 60/251 to the Human Rights Council which extended the mandate by its decision 102.  This mission was undertaken independently from the Commission of Inquiry established on the basis of Council resolution S-2/1.

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IV.  MAIN FINDINGS AND CONCERNS RELATED TO THE RIGHT TO

FOOD AND WATER

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B.  After the war

Food, agriculture and livelihoods

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25.  …  The Special Rapporteur was also concerned to find that one of the vulnerable groups of people particularly badly affected were Palestinian refugees living in unregistered camps, or “gatherings”, who do not benefit from the services of UNRWA and do not have the same rights as Lebanese, in terms of inheritance, ownership or work. There are nine “gatherings” in the area of Tyre and nine in the Bekaa area, and the majority of the Palestinian families survive on casual agricultural work, and/or fishing, which have disappeared since the war, making it more difficult to feed their families.  The Special Rapporteur visited two of these “gatherings” in the south: Jall al-Bahr and Wasta. A serious concern that has been raised is that the poorest agricultural labourers, including Palestinians, will also be most at risk from UXO as they will be too desperate not to accept work to clear the fields.

IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

31. The right to food and water is protected under international human rights and humanitarian law.  Given the essential nature of food and water to the survival of civilian populations, these are central obligations in time of war, as well as in time of peace.  In the light of the findings described above and the international obligations of the parties involved in the war, the Special Rapporteur makes the following conclusions and recommendations:

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(l) The Government of Lebanon, with UNRWA, should ensure that unregistered “gatherings” of Palestinians refugees are recognized as official camps and can be provided with all the basic services by the relevant authorities as well as by the Agency;

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