Palestinians in Lebanon: Suffering Worsened as High Energy Prices Fuel Inflation
Shop closure reflects growing strain
Osama Najjar, a Palestinian refugee in the Beddawi camp in Tripoli, once ran an aluminium shop. He says rising prices and energy costs have made life increasingly difficult for Palestinians, among Lebanon’s most vulnerable communities.
Business slowed, and Najjar could no longer keep up with his bills. He closed the shop in early 2024 and has struggled to find work since. Lebanon has yet to recover from its 2019 economic and banking crisis. Domestic inflation and rising energy costs have added further pressure on Palestinians.
Long-standing barriers to work
A 1964 decree required non-Lebanese nationals to obtain work permits. Palestinian political groups also took part in Lebanon’s 1975–1990 civil war, leaving ill will among some parts of the population.
In February 2026, the government introduced a mechanism for Palestinian nursing students to apply for employment sponsorship. Experts say such legal changes do not remove Palestinians’ structural exclusion from the labour force.
Aid agency faces funding gap
Many Palestinians turn to UNRWA for assistance. Funding cuts followed in 2024 after Israel alleged, without providing evidence, that agency employees took part in the October 7, 2023 attacks; UNRWA denied the accusations.
Many states later restored funding. In July, however, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that UNRWA faced a shortfall of about $100m.
Sea journeys carry grave risks
Some Palestinians are trying to reach Europe by sea because they see no way to build a dignified life at home. In 2022, at least 86 people died when a boat that had left Lebanon sank off Syria; many of those killed were Palestinians from the camps.
Najjar says people in the camps are talking about taking boats to Turkiye and then travelling on to Greece. The article reports fears that more Palestinians and other vulnerable communities could make such journeys as living costs become harder to bear. With no economic relief on the horizon, Najjar says Palestinians may continue seeking a way out despite the risks.
Key points
- Najjar closed his aluminium shop in early 2024 and has struggled to find work.
- Rising energy costs and inflation compound the effects of Lebanon’s economic crisis.
- UNRWA faces a funding shortfall of about $100m, according to Antonio Guterres.
- Some Palestinians are discussing dangerous boat journeys toward Turkiye and Greece.