Lebanon: Information on the issuing by the Lebanese government to Palestinians of a travel document with a stamp indicating that the holder of the document cannot return to Lebanon
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN10276 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: Information on the issuing by the Lebanese government to Palestinians of a travel document with a stamp indicating that the holder of the document cannot return to Lebanon, 1 February 1992, LBN10276, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abca74.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Published information on this specific subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa.
According to a representative of the Palestine Human Rights Information Centre in Chicago, sources consulted by the organization have indicated that the Lebanese government has been issuing the above-mentioned document to Palestinians who are not registered with either the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA) or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (13 Feb. 1992). If Palestinians who have not registered with either of these two organizations receive a laissez-passer from the Lebanese government with a stamp on page ten stating "Not Valid For Return" (Ibid.). The Palestine Human Rights Information Centre was unable to specify if this procedure is still in place or if it has been strictly applied both by the government and the Embassies of Lebanon abroad (Ibid.).
The British Refugee Council provided the same information as The Palestine Human Rights Information Centre in Chicago (20 Feb. 1992). According to The Refugee Council of Britain the government of Lebanon is issuing passes to Palestinians stamped "Not Valid For Re-entry" (Ibid.). This source added that The move is in line with the government's stated intention to reduce the numbers of (illegal) Palestinians in Lebanon, and is presumably helpful to such people who might otherwise be stuck in Lebanon (Ibid.).
A representative at the Consulate of Lebanon in Ottawa stated that Palestinians who arrived to Lebanon after 1967 do not have the right to residence in Lebanon (10 Feb. 1992). The representative added that the Lebanese government provides a travel document to Palestinians for returning to the country of their choice (Ibid.).
According to a representative of the Palestine Information Centre in Washington, the Lebanese government has not favoured the return or the establishment of Palestinians in Lebanon since 1982 (10 Feb. 1992).
Additional and/or corroborating information on this subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa.
For further information please refer to the attached document.
Bibliography
British Refugee Council. 20 February 1992. Fax. London.
Consulate of Lebanon, Ottawa. 10 February 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.
Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, Chicago. 13 February 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.
Palestine Information Centre, Washington. 10 February 1992. Telephone Interview with a Representative.
Attachments
Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 19 November 1990. Response to Information Request LBN7190.
The British Refugee Council. 20 February 1992. Fax. London.
