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.