AQABAT JABR REFUGEE CAMP

Aqabat Jabr camp was established in 1948, 3 kilometers southwest of Jericho. Prior to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, the number of registered refugees totaled some 30,000, making Aqabat Jabr the biggest camp in the West Bank. The original inhabitants came from nearly 300 villages north of Haifa, as well as the Gaza and Hebron areas. Like other West Bank campus, it was established on land UNRWA leased from the government of Jordan.

Many of the refugees escaped to Jordan during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The camp came under the Palestinian Authority’s control following the signing of the 1994 Cairo Agreement. The refugees now hail mostly from 22 villages, including Deir Al-Dhannam. Ajour, Al-Mismiyya, Abbasiyeh, Beit Jibrin, Tel Al Safi, Beit Dajan, Yazou and Kufr Ana. Non-refugees have also moved onto camp lands and some have illegally constructed houses there. Residents today work primarily in agriculture in the Jordan Valley, or in nearby Israeli settlements.

While all shelters are connected to public water and electricity infrastructure, water scarcity is a major problem in this desert area. During the summer months residents face severe water shortages which cause tremendous hardship. UNRWA is able to provide some water to the camp by pumping it from a nearby spring, though the Israeli water company Mekerot is the main supplier of water to the camp. There is no storm water drainage, and during heavy rains water floods residents’ homes.

Registered Refugees

• Total: 6,403 (December 2007)
• Average family size: 5.1
• Poverty rate: 24.1%; 11.8% in absolute poverty
• Unemployment rate: 28.4%; affected by inaccessibility of the Israeli labor market. Unemployed people often open small businesses, such as roadside stands.
• Average monthly income: NIS 884
• Average Age: 21.1
• Demographic Profile

UNRWA Education Programme

• Schools: 2 elementary/preparatory schools, one co-educational and one for girls.
• Pupils: 1632
• In 2003, the girls’ school was expanded to a new library, a multipurpose room, a computer lab and extra classrooms.
• UNRWA schools also house 4 of the camps’ 6 playgrounds.

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

• Food distribution centre: 1
• Social Safety Net (SSN) Programme beneficiaries: 125 families
• UNRWA collects trash daily, which is then transported to the Jericho municipality twice a week.
• 25 of 26 shelters damaged by IDF incursions during the second intifada repaired.

UNRWA Health Programme

• UNRWA health centre: 1,
• Other health centres: 2. 1 additional health centre run by Al-Shifa’ Centre of the Health Care Committee Union and 1 additional private clinic

UNRWA Microfinance Programme

• Loan beneficiaries: 21 residents
• Total value: $29,661

UNRWA Emergency Programme

• 780 families receiving emergency food and cash assistance

Community Services

• 1 Community based Rehabilitation Centre

• 1 youth activity centre

• 1 children’s center

• 3 kindergartens

• 1 women’s programme center

• 6 mosques

• 3 local NGOs provide services in the camp.