RASHIDIEH REFUGEE CAMP

Rashidieh camp lies on the seashore 5 km from the southern port of Tyre. The older part of the camp was built by the French Government in 1936 to accommodate Armenian refugees. The "new camp" was built by UNRWA in 1963 for Palestine refugees evacuated from Gouraud camp in the Baalbeck and who originally came from Deir al-Qassi, Alma an-Naher and other villages in northern Palestine.

Rashidieh camp was heavily affected by the conflict between 1982-1987, which resulted in the total or partial destruction of nearly 600 shelters and the displacement of over 5,000 refugees. The Agency has not been able to assist in shelter rehabilitation due to a ban on entry of building material imposed by the Lebanese Government since 1998.

The camp's inhabitants are only able to find work in seasonal agriculture and construction.

Almost all shelters in the camp are ventilated and are supplied with water and electricity. Although they all have private toilets there is no sewerage network and sewage flows into open ditches along roads and pathways.

The Agency is currently constructing a new health centre with funds from the Government of Belgium.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• There are 25, 580 registered refugees;
• 830 families of 3980 persons are registered as S.H.Cs.
• One Agency health centre with an average of 235 patients per day;
• Three UNRWA elementary/preparatory schools and one secondary school for 2,805 enrolled pupils 2003/2004;
• One community managed women's programme centre that runs skill-training courses, organizes awareness raising sessions on health, social, legal, human rights and gender issues and coordinates with local NGOs to respond to community needs.

A number of NGOs are active in Rashidieh, including Al-Najda, Beit Atfal Al-Soumoud, Naba’, Al-Quds, Al-Wazir Foundation, General Palestinian Women's Union and Red Crescent. The services they provide include cash assistance to orphans, kindergartens, a training centre and a rehabilitation centre for refugees with disabilities.

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