SOUF REFUGEE CAMP

Souf camp was one of the six "emergency" camps set up for Palestine refugees and displaced persons who left the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The camp covers an area of 500,000 square metres and is situated near the famous Roman ruins of Jerash, 50 km north of Amman.

The camp was abandoned in October 1967 because of the harsh weather conditions and heavy rainfall and the inhabitants were accommodated in a tented camp in the Jordan Valley. This temporary camp was abandoned in 1968 due to an escalation in military operations in the area and the refugees and displaced persons were moved back to Souf.

The Agency's plans for providing more durable tents to withstand the harsh winters were dropped in favour of constructing prefabricated shelters, and 1,650 were constructed with special contributions from the Near East Christian Committee and the Federal Republic of Germany.

UNRWA provides education, health and relief and social services through 9 installations operated by 132 UNRWA staff.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• The population is about 21,900 persons, of whom 20,530 are registered refugees;

• UNRWA runs 4 schools for 2,684 pupils enrolled in 2006/2007, with a teaching staff of 90;

• The Agency's health centre is run by 2 doctors, 1 dentist, 16 nurses and assistants for about 370 patients daily;

• 319 families receive assistance through the Agency's special hardship case programme;

• The women's programme centre, which also has a kindergarten, is run by a local women's committee which receives financial and technical support from UNRWA. Some 450 women benefit from its activities annually;

• UNRWA supports the work of the community rehabilitation centre, which was set up in 1983 with support from Oxfam UK. It provides services for about 250 refugees with disabilities.

The Government of Jordan runs two secondary schools, a post office, a police post and a youth activities centre. There is also a sewing centre run by the Near East Council of Churches and a play centre for pre-school children operated by the Arab Fund Association.