Zarqa Camp

Zarqa camp is the oldest Palestine refugee camp in Jordan, and was one of the four camps established after l948 to accommodate the refugees who left Palestine as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

The camp was set up by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1949 for 8,000 refugees in an area of 180,000 square metres near the town of Zarqa. UNRWA later replaced the original tents with concrete shelters and over the years the refugees have made improvements and added more rooms. The camp now resembles other urban quarters in Zarqa.

Facts and Figures

Population

• 18,509 Registered Refugees

UNRWA Education Programme

• 6 Elementary/Preparatory school for 2,938 enrolled pupils in 2008/2009.

UNRWA Relief & Social Services Programme

• 166 Families receive assistance under the Social Safety Net Programme

• One Food Distribution centre

UNRWA Health Programme

• Two Health centres

NGOs

There are seven active NGOs in the camp, which organize cultural activities and run an educational enhancement programme for children.

• One Women’s Programme Centre which provides training courses for women in sewing & beauty, awareness activities, kindergarten and programme for caring of the disabled.

• One Community based Rehabilitation Centre

Public Information Office
March 2009