R E F U G E E S

RASHIDIEH REFUGEE CAMP

The Rashidieh camp is divided into "old" and "new" sections. The older part was built by the French Government in 1936 to accommodate Armenian refugees who fled to Lebanon. The "new camp" was built by UNRWA in 1963 to accommodate Palestine refugees who were evacuated from Gouraud camp in the Baalbeck area. Most of the inhabitants of Rashidiyeh camp originally come from Deir al-Qassi, Alma an-Naher and other villages in northern Palestine.

The camp lies on the seashore 5 km from Tyre. Rashidieh was heavily affected during the Lebanese Civil War, especially between 1982-1987. This resulted in the total or partial destruction of nearly 600 shelters and the displacement of over 5,000 refugees. Remaining shelters have serious need of rehabilitation.

Employment opportunities are very limited and most of the camp’s residents work seasonally in agriculture and construction.

Almost all shelters in the camp are ventilated and are supplied with water and electricity. Although they all have private toilets, the camp has no sewerage system. UNRWA is awaiting the construction of the main municipal sewer line in order to construct a sewerage system and connect to it. The storm water drainage and water supply system has been rehabilitated recently.

Registered Refugees:

  • Total number: 27,521
  • Average family size: 3.76

UNRWA Education Programme

  • Schools: Three elementary/preparatory schools and one secondary school.
  • Pupils: 2614

UNRWA Health Programme

  • Health centre : 1
  • Number of medical staff: 18, regularly visited by specialists in gynecology, cardiology and ophthalmology
  • Number of patient consultations per month: 5236

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

  • Social Safety Net (SSN) Programme beneficiaries: 4068 individuals
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Community Services

  • A community managed women's programme centre runs skill-training courses and apprenticeships. The centre organizes awareness sessions on health, social, legal, human rights and gender issues and coordinates with local NGOs to respond to community needs.

  • A number of local NGOs provide services in the camp. They provide cash assistance, kindergatens, training centers and a rehabilitation centre for refugees with disabilities.