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BURJ
EL-SHEMALI REFUGEE CAMP

Burj el-Shemali camp is located 3 km east of Tyre in south Lebanon.
The camp was set up after the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict to provide
tented shelter for Palestine refugees from Hawla and Tiberias in
northern Palestine. UNRWA started providing services in the camp in
1955. The camp also houses displaced Palestine refugees from other
parts of Lebanon.
The camp suffered a great deal of damage during the years of civil
conflict and much work still needs to be done to improve the
infrastructure. While most shelters were built with concrete blocks,
there are also many make-shift shelters with zinc roofing. 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.
Unemployment is extremely high in Burj el-Shemali. Men find seasonal
work in agriculture and construction and some are manual workers. Women
work in seasonal agriculture and as house cleaners.
All shelters are supplied with electricity. Water is supplied from
three wells operated by UNRWA. All shelters have private toilets
connected to percolating pits. Sewage and waste water runs into open
storm run-off drains along roads and pathways.
UNRWA plans to construct a new water and sewerage network in the
camp.
FACTS AND FIGURES
- There are 18, 659 registered Palestine refugees;
- 833 families of 3961 persons are registered as S.H.Cs.
- One UNRWA health centre with an average of 289 patients per day;
- Four UNRWA elementary/preparatory schools for 2,263 enrolled
pupils in 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 Burj el-Shemali, including Al-Najda,
Beit Atfal Al-Soumoud, the General Palestinian Women's Union, Ahmad
Rahyal, Palestinian Martyrs' Association and the Palestinian Red
Crescent Society. The services they provide include cash and medical
assistance and hospitalization, kindergartens and training centres.
The inhabitants of the camp have access to the RSSD loan and soft
loan schemes.
Figures as of 31 December 2003
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