Presented before the RWG Coordination Meeting in Petra, Jordan 24-26 November, 1996

Report for discussion from the Norwegian Shepherd Experiences from the June 1996 Oslo Intersessional Seminar on Data Bases

The Norwegian Shepherd has the pleasure of providing Fafo’s report from the Third Intersessional Expert Meeting on Data Bases held in Oslo on 12-13 June 1996. This report is an informal report on what was achieved during the meeting. We are also providing an updated summary of data base activities and projects including comments to each of the listed items.

We would like to highlight the following seven observations concerning the status of the Data Base Theme and the experiences of the Third Oslo Intersessional Seminar:

It was very satisfactory that this Intersessional was held, considering that it took place just after the Israeli elections and subsequent change in government. Even if we regretted the absence of the Jordanian delegation, we were pleased by the participation of the other regional parties and by the work performed.

The Shepherd very much welcomed the constructive input to the discussions by the other Shepherds. We took note of the ideas provided by some of the Shepherds and we take upon ourselves to improve even further in consulting and in cooperating with you all. The Norwegian Shepherd felt that the Seminar gave renewed inspiration for fulfilling the task that this Shepherd has set forth to complete. We have defined the objectives of our work to be to promote and coordinate the collection, aggregation and analysis of data that has been identified as helpful to the negotiation process and to the design of programs to alleviate the living conditions of the refugees. This definition of objectives seemed to be supported and shared by all participants in the Intersessional.

The need to establish status of the data base activities has increased given that the parties enter into the last phase of negotiations. So far, the Norwegian Shepherd has not been able to prepare reports that can fully serve to describe status in a way that is adapted to the new situation. We realize, therefore, that a summary report should be prepared, building on the data base work completed so far, in particular the inventory on research on Palestinian refugees. It should, further, integrate input from all the Shepherds and be edited with a view to serve the purpose of handing results over to the next phase. Norway is willing to prepare a draft for discussion in a forthcoming Intersessional.

The Shepherd is of the opinion that the living conditions for the Palestinian refugees are fairly well documented for the West Bank and Gaza, and outstanding lacunas are filled at a rapid pace. The availability of comparative data for Jordan is improving radically with the Jordan Living Conditions Survey, that has been undertaken by the Jordanian Government, and for which the results will be available in short time. Although there are research activities ongoing to analyze the situation for refugees in Lebanon and Syria, there is a lack of comparable data based on statistical series from these countries. The RWG has several times recommended that more statistical information be produced from these countries. The Norwegian Shepherd is exploring the feasibility of implementing a living conditions survey in Lebanon as a bilateral project between the two countries. Norway will provide more information about status in the planned intersessional in March next year.

In the Intersessional Seminar, Fafo presented the idea of constructing a tool to appraise living conditions within confined areas with a view to target projects for those areas, as well as to select areas for project implementation. Fafo called this tool the Rapid Living Conditions Appraisal, and it will consist of a selection of defined living conditions indicators that can be constructed on the basis of a limited survey. As the idea led to a discussion among the delegates that ended inconclusive, the Norwegian Shepherd sees a need to clarify the issue. Norway is planning to develop the design of the tool further, and to present it for the next intersessional on data bases.

Following from what is said above, the Norwegian Shepherd recognizes a need for another intersessional expert meeting on data bases. We would suggest to host it in Oslo, and, if possible, in March and before the Easter holidays. We would further suggest that the regional parties and the Shepherds should be invited to the seminar.

Oslo, June 12-13 1996.