Syria has a little more than 400,000 refugees. There are 10 official refugee camps and also three unofficial camps. Refugees possess the same rights as citizens with the exception of the right to vote, hold office or hold a Syrian passport. For the most part, medical services and education are provided for Palestinians living in Syria by the United Nations. In many countries where the U.N. takes charge the services are not as good as those provided by the national government, however, this is not necessarily the case in Syria. In fact, some Syrians would admit that the level of English that Palestinian children reach is often higher than that of Syrian children.
Though the name might suggest a temporary structure, Palestinian refugee camps are more like neighborhoods. They are generally poorer than the average Syrian neighborhood, but there are many Syrians who live in still worse areas. A visitor in Syria might notice that he or she has crossed into a Palestinian camp by a wide variety of Palestinian flags, posters, and banners flying from balconies or pasted on walls. Often Hamas, the political leaders of Gaza, holds pro-Palestine rallies and marches through the main camp, Yarmuk, which are usually well attended by Palestinians and closely monitored by the not-so-secret Syrian police. Behind closed doors, many Palestinians will admit to supporting Hamas’ opposition group, Fatah, but Fatah does not have the support of the Syrian government, and pro-Fatah rallies are not encouraged.
Palestinian children growing up in Syria understand from a young age that they are from Palestine. Most will know the village that their ancestors came from. There is a strong feeling of national pride among Palestinians, but most of them (and even many of their fathers) have no idea what it would be like to live in Palestine. Syria is the home that they know, but Palestine is the home that they dream of seeing.
