The UNRWA director in Lebanon, Richard Cook, said Tuesday that Hamas‘ victory last month in legislative elections in Palestine will not affect the nature of the agency‘s work. "Although we are following up on the developments, we eiterate that our activities are purely humanitarian and there are no political activities on the UNRWA‘s agenda," he added.

Cook made the comment during a visit to refugee camps in Tyre, where he inspected a number of clinics and schools.

Cook visited the Rashidieh refugee camp to inspect Al-Aqsa Secondary School, before holding a meeting at the camp with Fatah‘s commander in Lebanon, Brigadier Sultan Abu al-Aynayn. Cook‘s visit is the first since Hamas‘ electoral victory, and since a series of protests by Palestinian popular committees across southern refugee camps against a number of UNRWA decisions.

Palestinian refugees earlier this year staged protests against a decision to cut medical
coverage, although UNRWA maintains it did not make any cuts.

Cook said the Lebanese government is cooperating positively with UNRWA and that ongoing contacts with officials aim to settle refugee-related issues, including permitting construction materials into the camps.

This is Sami Amr’s second trip to the local rubbish tip in one day. The thirteen year old works as a glass collector. That is, he picks up broken glass from tips and sells them on to make money.

Having left school at the age of eleven, his future, just like the future of thousands of other children in the same country, looks bleak. This country is Lebanon. These are the children of the Palestinian refugees.

Lebanon has witnessed a major surge of patriotism in the last year, particularly on the recent anniversary of Rafik Hariri's assassination. With independence and economic strength on top of everyone's agenda, one must question whether success can be possible with the ongoing and worsening situation in the refugee camps. The situation that Amnesty International has called a ‘Legacy of Shame’ and the late Rafik Hariri called ‘unjust.’

With the pressure on Lebanon to implement the UN resolution of 1559, the focus has turned on the Palestinian militias to disarm. However, in reality most believe that the real danger also lies in the dreadful conditions that they live in. This is what could aide in agitating the conditions for extremism.

The representation of the refugees is often cosmetically coated with the image of militants, Syrian supporters, or simply unfortunate victims. But none of these images interest young Sami. He explains the reasons why he needs to take this menial job. 'I want to help my seven year old sister, Hala, become a doctor when she is older, it's all our family's dream that she will be able to work as a doctor in this camp.'

Sami lives in ‘Ein El-Helwa,’ the largest refugee camp in Lebanon which holds over 45,000 people, nearly half of them under the age of fifteen. There are approximately 12 camps altogether in the country, with a total amount of 400,000 refugees; a substantial amount in a country where the total population is approximately 3,826,000. While they wait to return to their homeland, the camps they live in struggle to fulfill their basic human needs. Waiting to return for nearly sixty years, the fourth generation are now being told to continue in this futile lingering.

The state of Lebanon will not accept them as permanent settlers, and they themselves do not want to be seen as Lebanese. But while we wait for a recognized Palestinian state and some solutions to the Israeli problem, some Lebanese laws need amending, now more than ever. In order to make Lebanon an icon of individual rights and justice, the widening gap of living standards must be addressed.

There are many examples of Palestinians who, by obtaining other nationalities have been able to contribute greatly to the Lebanese state, the great journalist Samir Kassir for example. But the Lebanese state and much of its population continue to forget the majority; or ignore them. But many fear that these young, frustrated Palestinian people may be the power that distresses Lebanon’s already delicate sectarian balance.

Sami Amr considers himself lucky. According to the ‘Popular Committee,’ a group that strives to represent the different political factions in Ein El Helwa, 80% of their population is unemployed.

All Lebanese share the dream of uniting and building their country now more than ever. But is this achievable in a country where approximately 10% who live in it remain without the right to own or inherit their property, receive social security or enter into most professions? Lebanese want to achieve economic, social and cultural prosperity, but parts of the country are deprived from basic human rights.

Sami skips over the sewage pipe in the street and enters his house. He has brought home a special treat of faruj (rotisserie chicken) for his mother, brother and three sisters.

Without a homeland, will Sami’s and his friend’s generation at least have an opportunity of a successful life of freedom and security? For their good and the good of Lebanon, I hope they will.

The representative of a UN relief agency in Lebanon said the willingness of the current government to address the situation of Palestinian refugees provided a unique opportunity to make headway on the issue. "Past governments were reluctant to ease restrictions on Palestinian refugees," said Richard Cook of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). "This government is more willing to discuss this issue ... I say the doors have been opened for us and we should seek this opportunity."

Speaking during a conference at the American University of Beirut Wednesday, Cook said 400,000 refugees are registered with his agency.

The conference covered the mandate and operations of UNRWA and that of the United Nations Higher Council for Refugees in Lebanon. It falls within a series of events organized for the occasion of world refugee day on June 25.

Cook said political realities made certain options, such as expanding the overcrowded camps - whose boundaries have not changed since 1948 - or relocating refugees off-limits.

The official said he had recently discussed with Premier Fouad Siniora's Cabinet a number of short-term solutions that will improve the situation of the refugees and added that he sensed a readiness to help those refugees.

The refugee community came to Lebanon primarily from the northern part of the Occupied Territories 58 years ago.

"Every time I go to these camps I see living conditions that are much worse that those in Gaza," said Cook.

"Camps are overcrowded, there is no electricity, no water, no natural light, no ventilation ... and the lack of these factors creates diseases among refugees," said Cook.