As the number of refugees and displaced persons increases on a daily basis, along with their suffering and the challenges they face, representatives of member states in the Arab Regional Consultation Process on Migration and Asylum stress the importance of security and support for refugees. On the occasion of World Refugee Day, they emphasise the principle of sharing burdens and responsibilities to aid host and transit countries in providing protection and basic services—such as shelter, health, and education. These measures are essential for the stability of nations, especially in light of the worsening global and regional refugee situations, which undermine development efforts despite numerous plans at global, regional, and national levels.
In this context, they commend the initiatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain, highlighted in the Declaration issued by the Arab Summit at its 33rd session on 16 May 2024. These initiatives focus on providing educational services to those affected by conflicts and strife in the region, who have been deprived of their right to formal education due to security and political conditions and the repercussions of displacement, asylum, and migration. Additionally, they aim to improve health care for those affected by conflicts and strife in the region.
They also value the statement of the Arab leaders at the Bahrain summit regarding the aggression against the Gaza Strip and condemn the ongoing Israeli aggression, noting that over 70 percent of Gaza’s population are refugees. Since October 2023, the Palestinian people have faced bombing, killing, destruction, and the targeting of hospitals, ambulances, schools, religious institutions, and humanitarian and international organisations, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). They reject any practices aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians, emphasising that these actions violate all international conventions, treaties, and norms and constitute international crimes, including genocide, while the world remains silent in the face of this bloodshed.
They highlight the decisions of the Council of the League of Arab States and relevant UN resolutions, which denounce ethnic cleansing and the forced displacement of the Palestinian people. They reject attempts to escalate the crisis at the expense of Arab countries, particularly the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, considering these actions a red line and a threat to Arab national security. From this standpoint, they stress the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities to stop the aggression and implement the measures approved by the International Court of Justice. This includes protecting the lives of civilians, preserving their basic rights, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and protecting those responsible for it. They call for adherence to international law and international humanitarian law, and for overcoming political calculations and double standards in dealing with international crises.
They also reaffirm the need to consider the unique circumstances of Palestinian refugees, who are the oldest group of refugees in the world since 1948. During the Nakba and continuing to the present day, they have been subjected to ethnic cleansing and multiple forced displacements due to events in the Arab region. Emphasising their unconditional rights, they assert the Palestinian refugees' right to self-determination, the right to return to their homeland and homes from which they were displaced, and compensation in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 of 1948. They also underscore the international mandate granted to UNRWA by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302 of 1949, and emphasise holding Israel (the occupying power) legally, politically, and morally responsible for the creation and continuation of the Palestinian refugee problem.
They reject any actions by any party to abolish the right of return, attempts at resettlement, or efforts to dissolve or replace UNRWA, especially in light of the genocidal war and famine in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA’s vital role as a lifeline for millions of refugees is acknowledged, and there is a strong rejection of attempts to redefine the Palestinian refugee and their legal status. They call on the international community to continue providing necessary and sustainable support to UNRWA, enabling it to fulfill its mandates and responsibilities towards refugees, preventing the collapse of its services, and ultimately ending the suffering of refugees by enabling them to exercise their individual and collective rights, particularly the right to return to their homes and receive reparations for damages.
In this context, they appreciate the Arab efforts and the roles of countries hosting Palestinian refugees and UNRWA’s operations in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Lebanese Republic, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.
On this day, representatives of member states in the Arab Consultation Process highlight that one year after the crisis began in Sudan, large flows of Sudanese refugees and displaced persons have emerged. Additionally, refugees hosted by Sudan have been displaced to neighbouring countries. The latest estimates indicate that more than 1.8 million refugees and returnees have fled to neighboring countries, and 6.8 million people have been displaced within Sudan. These flows have significantly increased the pressures on host countries, further exacerbated by the lack of funding for humanitarian agencies, hindering their ability to respond to the crisis effectively.
They also underscore the decisions made during the 33rd session of the Arab Summit in Bahrain, stressing the importance of supporting Arab countries neighbouring the Syrian Arab Republic and other Arab nations hosting Syrian refugees and displaced persons. They call for the international community to provide resources to support early recovery programmes and back national and international response plans to address the Syrian refugee crisis, paving the way for their voluntary, dignified, and safe return to their homeland.
On this occasion, they underscore the urgent need to address the root causes of asylum and displacement. They call for redoubled international efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, maintain international peace and security, and enhance cooperation between political, humanitarian, and development actors in the field of peace. They stress the importance of applying international law and international humanitarian law, considering the principles of human rights and refugees without double standards, exceptions, or selectivity.
