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Article
When “Humanitarianism” Becomes “Development”: The Politics of International Aid in Syria's Palestinian Refugee Camps
American Anthropologist
  • Nell Gabiam, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
3-1-2012
DOI
10.1111/j.1548-1433.2011.01399.x
Abstract
In recent years, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has attempted to go beyond its role as a provider of relief and basic services in Palestinian refugee camps and emphasize its role as a development agency. In this article, I focus on the Neirab Rehabilitation Project, an UNRWA-sponsored development project taking place in the Palestinian refugee camps of Ein el Tal and Neirab in northern Syria. I argue that UNRWA's role as a relief-centered humanitarian organization highlights the everyday suffering of Palestinian refugees, suffering that has become embedded in refugees’ political claims. I show that UNRWA's emphasis on “development” in the refugee camps is forcing Palestinian refugees in Ein el Tal and Neirab to reassess the political narrative through which they have understood their relationship with UNRWA.
Comments

This article is from American Anthropologist 114 (2012): 95–107, doi:10.1111/j.1548-1433.2011.01399.x. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
American Anthropological Association
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Nell Gabiam. "When “Humanitarianism” Becomes “Development”: The Politics of International Aid in Syria's Palestinian Refugee Camps" American Anthropologist Vol. 114 Iss. 1 (2012) p. 95 - 107
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/nell-gabiam/1/