BEDDAWI CAMP

Beddawi camp is situated in the hills 5 km north of Tripoli and was established by UNRWA in 1955.

The camp's main problems are poverty and unemployment. All shelters have indoor water supplies. The camp's sewers flood frequently and sewage is discharged directly into the sea.

In 2003 UNRWA with support from ECHO rehabilitated 28 shelters.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• There are 16, 198 registered Palestine refugees;
• 644 families of 2993 persons are registered as S.H.Cs.
• One UNRWA health centre with an average of 254 patients per day;
• Six UNRWA elementary/preparatory schools and one secondary school for 3,468 enrolled pupils in 2003/2004;
• One community managed women's programme centre that runs skill-training courses, apprenticeship and tutoring classes, organizes awareness raising 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.
• Community-based Rehabilitation Programme for Disabled (CBR).

One kindergarten teaching French for 46 enrolled pupils in 2003/2004.

A number of NGOs are active in Beddawi, including Al-Najda, Beit Atfal Al-Soumoud, Ghassan Kanafani Cultural Foundation, Lina Nabulsi National Association and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The services they provide include sponsorship programmes for orphans, vocational training, medical services and hospitalization and kindergartens.

The inhabitants of the camp have access to the RSSD loan and soft loan schemes.