More than 5 million Palestinians live without a place they can call home.
For almost seven decades, the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees has helped those
displaced by conflict receive humanitarian support.
Oh Soo-young got a chance for to sit down with the head of the agency to learn more
about the situation.
It's been almost 70 years since the Arab-Israeli War broke out,... and yet, there are many
issues yet to be resolved, and among them stands out the Palestinian question.
The regional conflict led to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing their homes in 1948,
and the majority of them still remain displaced as the armed conflict with Israel continues
to hinder any attempt for settlement.
Today, there are more than 5 million refugees registered with the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees headed by Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl.
"The situation in the middle east having been so complicated becoming increasingly volatile
so conflict-prone affected by ongoing wars in Syria, blockade in Gaza, the Palestine
community faces what can be described as an existential crisis."
Established in 1949, the UN agency now runs 58 camps for Palestinian refugees in Jordan,
Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as hundreds of schools, health
centers and distribution facilities.
Korea has supported these efforts, and since 1991, humanitarian assistance has amounted
to almost 50 million U.S. dollars as of last year.
Korea's regional projects in Palestine include health and governance, but most significantly,
education and vocational training.
"We need to be able to create a link between education and employment opportunities for
Palestine refugees and I believe we can benefit a great deal there from the Korean experience."
Considering Korea's own struggle for statehood during Japan's colonial period and the fast-tracked
economic development it went through after the Korean War, the Commissioner-General says
the Korean experience serves as a source of inspiration for Palestine refugees.
"I think Palestinians can related to the fact that Korea was devastated after the war and
managed to find the energy, strength and determination to build a completely new country and a different
economic model, a future of prosperity and opportunities for the people.
In Palestine, they do not simply want to be seem as victims.
They insist, 'we are young people with rights and we want the world to recognize our skills
our rights and contribute to the world.'"
However, endeavors for development can only go so far, without political initiative to
end the ongoing conflicts in the region.
"Are we any closer to resolving the Palestinian question?"
"Right now, the world is neglecting its duties in terms of attending the political process.
There's no particular sense of initiative, no sense of urgency for the resolution of
the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
I think that's a risk the world shouldn't be taking.
Because at the end of the day, 5.2 million Palestine refugees live in Palestine, Lebanon,
Syria, West Bank and Gaza.
That's half the population of Seoul, the population of Singapore or Norway.
If they don't see a political prospect or personal opportunities, We fear it's a restless
community filled with frustration and despair."
Thank you very much for your insight, Commissioner-General, and we do wish you all the best.