2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian "Nakba". Between late 1947 and the first half of 1949, around 750,000 Palestinians
(85% of those living in what is now the State of Israel) became refugees while several tens of thousands more were internally displaced. More than 500 Palestinian villages were depopulated and later
destroyed. Today Palestinian refugees and IDPs constitute one of the world's largest displaced populations. Registered refugees from the 1948 Nakba now number 4,448,429. It is a
population that has yet to see many of their rights realized and remain highly vulnerable. Palestinian refugee children are especially at risk. Most live in exile, often in refugee camps and
many are exposed to ongoing conflict, violence and discrimination. Not only do Palestinian children continue to lack the protection conferred by nationality and a national government to represent
their rights, but increasingly, overcrowding and lack of resources are compromising access and quality of basic services such as education and health care. (data: BADIL and UNRWA). Save the
Children spoke with Palestinian children about what it meant to be a refugee. The children talked about their frustrations at life in overcrowded camps, and the challenges and discrimination they face
on a day to day basis. As can be seen through their words, feelings of insecurity and lack of freedom define their childhood. Download the factsheet here
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Mothers and their children are seen at the Medicine Sans Frontieres (MSF) clinic in Hawa Abdi, 20 km (12 miles) away from Mogadishu, in this picture released on June 26, 2008. ...
Download the factsheet here
