R E F U G E E S

BOURJ EL-BARAJNEH REFUGEE CAMP

The league of the Red Cross Societies established the Bourj el-Barajneh camp in 1948 to accomodate refugees wheo fled from the Galilee in northern Palestine. The camp is located in the southern suburbs of Beirut near Beirut International Airport.

The camp suffered heavily throughout the Lebanese Civil War. Refugees‘ propety was heavily damaged and nearly a quarter of the camp‘s population was displaced.

Men from the camp generally work as casual labourers in construction and women work in sewing factories or as cleaners to supplement family income. The environmental conditions in the camp are especially poor.

Registered Refugees:

  • Total number: 16,066
  • Average family size: 3.76

UNRWA Education Programme

  • Schools: Seven elementary/preparatory schools, all rented and located outside the camp
  • Pupils: 1928

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

  • One relief and social services office
  • Special hardship cases: 1905

UNRWA Health Programme

  • Health centre : 1
  • Number of medical staff: 2 permanent, regularly visited by specialists in gynecology, cardiology and ophthalmology
  • Number of patient consultations per month: 4224

Microcredit Community Support Programme – Community Managed Funds:

  • Individual loans (up to USD 3000 for urgent health issues, to improve households, education etc., since August 2008): 46
  • Group-Guaranteed Lending (of value USD 2500 – 5000 per group, for self-formed groups of five women, since August 2008): active – 27, general – 27

Community Services

  • The camp has one active ageing house that is funded through private donations and provides one hot meal daily to elderly people. Elderly people meet socially in the centre, which also plans various outings and awareness sessions.
  • The camp also has one community-managed women's programme centre. It provides skill-training and literacy courses for women, as well as tutoring for students. It organizes awareness sessions on health, social, legal, human rights and gender issues and coordinates with local NGOs to respond to community needs. Income generation loans and group guaranteed lending are also provided to women.
  • Through Global Opportunity Fund, the camp established a job counseling and placement center to aid those looking for jobs in community based and non-governmental organizations.