ASKAR REFUGEE CAMP

Askar camp was established in 1950 on 0.119 square kilometres within the municipal boundaries of Nablus. Refugees in Askar came from 36 villaged in the Ledd, Haifa and Jaffa areas. Like other West Bank campus, it was established on land UNRWA leased from the government of Jordan.

In 1965, severe overcrowding led camp residents to expand to an additional .09 square kilometres of adjacent land. Camp residents refer to this new area as "New Askar". "New Askar" is not, however, officially recognized as a camp, and there are thus no UNRWA installations in the new camp. Division of power between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the government of Israel has further divided the original and "new" camps; the original camp falls within "area A," and is thus under PA control, whereas the "new" camp is in "area B," and is thus under joint PA-Israeli control.

Overcrowding persists in the camp. The camp committee has suggested expanding the camp's boundaries as a possible solution. Since these camps fall under the jurisdiction of host governments, however, UNRWA has no authority to undertake camp expansions. All shelters are connected to public water and electricity infrastructure

Registered Refugees

• Total: 15,887 (December 2007)
• Average family size: 4.8
• Poverty rate: 44.2%; 27.9% in absolute poverty
• Unemployment rate: 28.1%
• Average monthly income: NIS 1,866
• Average Age: 23
• Demographic Profile

UNRWA Education Programme

• Schools: 2 single-sex elementary/preparatory schools, 1 co-educational elementary/preparatory school. The girls’ school operates on a two-shift basis.
• Pupils: 5362
• The girls’ school was constructed in 2003.

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

• Food distribution centre: 1
• Social Safety Net (SSN) Programme beneficiaries: 489 families
• UNRWA collects trash daily, which the Nablus municipality then transports the garbage to the municipal wastefill.
• 24 of 26 shelters damaged by IDF incursions during the second intifada repaired.

UNRWA Microfinance Programme

• Loan beneficiaries: 55 residents
• Total value: $52,119

UNRWA Health Programme

• UNRWA health centre: 1,
• Other health centres: 3. 1 run by the PA, 1 by the al-Quran and al-Suna Association, 1 private.

UNRWA Emergency Programme

• 2602 families receiving emergency food and cash assistance

Community Services

• 1 Community Based Rehabilitation Centre
• 1 Youth Activity Centre,
• 2 Children’s Centres,
• 3 Kindergartens,
• 1 Woman’s Programme Centre,
• 1 Educational Development Centre
• 2 mosques
• 3 libraries
• 1 arts centre