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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
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The population is about 21,900 persons, of whom
20,530 are registered refugees;
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UNRWA runs 4 schools for 2,684 pupils enrolled in
2006/2007, with a teaching staff of 90;
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The Agency's health centre is run by 2 doctors, 1
dentist, 16 nurses and assistants for about 370 patients daily;
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319 families receive assistance through the
Agency's special hardship case programme;
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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;
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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.
Figures as of 31 March 2007
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