HOMS REFUGEE CAMP

Homs camp lies within the town of Homs, 160 kilometres north of Damascus. The camp was established in 1949 on an area of 150,000 square metres, adjacent to al-Baath University. Most of the refugees originally fled from the villages surrounding Haifa and Acre in northern Palestine.

Today, the majority of the refugees are wage labourers, local civil servants or street vendors.

Poor environmental health is a major concern as it affects the quality of life and poses health risks for the refugees. The sewerage system needs to be expanded to cope with the increasing camp population. Two old school buildings are in a dilapidated condition and have major structural defects. UNRWA's main priority in the camp is to reconstruct the schools to provide improved educational facilities for the refugee children.

Registered Refugees:

• Total: 22,034 (December 2008)
• Average family size: 4.5 members
• Camp population by age:

UNRWA Education Programme

• Schools: 6 double-shifted schools, operating in 3 school buildings.
• Staff members: 95
• Pupils: 2424
• In 2007, two school buildings were renovated and combined into one, with funds from the German government. The two other school buildings are in need of reconstruction.

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

• Food distribution centre: 1
• Social safety net (SSN) programme beneficiaries: 14,222 individuals (3425 families) receive 2337 daily rations

UNRWA Health Programme

• Health centre: 1
• Number of medical staff: 13
• Number of patient consultations per month: 4934

Major Problems:

• Drug addiction
• Housing problems
• Early marriage and its implications
• High unemployment rate
• High rate of school dropouts