R E F U G E E S

CAMP NUMBER ONE REFUGEE CAMP

Camp Number 1 was established in 1950 on .045 square kilometres alongside the main Nablus/Jenin road, within the municipal boundaries of Nablus. The original inhabitants of the camp came from the cities of Ludd, Jaffa and Haifa. Some residents are also of Bedouin origin. Since there was a water spring that provided for refugees’ water needs in the early days of the camp, it is also sometimes referred to as "Ein Beit el-Ma’" ("Spring of the House of Water"). Like other West Bank campus, it was established on land UNRWA leased from the government of Jordan.

Following the Israeli army redeployment in 1995, the camp came under Palestinian Authority control. All shelters are connected to public water and electricity infrastructure. The camp faces very serious overcrowding issues. Shelters have .2 meters between them, on average, and streets are so cramped that there are no sidewalks in the camp. Space is so tight that bodies of the deceased are usually passed through windows from one shelter to another in order to reach the camp's main street during funerals.

Registered Refugees

  • Total: 6,750 (December 2007)
  • Average family size: 5.0
  • Poverty rate: 33.1%; 18.7% in absolute poverty
  • Unemployment rate: 25.5%
  • Average monthly income: NIS 1,280
  • Average Age: 23.3
  • Demographic Profile
Age: 0-14 15-24 25-60 Over 60
Percentage of Refugees 40 20.3 35.3 4.4

UNRWA Education Programme

  • Schools: 2 elementary/preparatory schools
  • Pupils: 1082

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

  • Social Safety Net (SSN) Programme beneficiaries: 217 families
  • UNRWA collects trash which are then transported to municipal landfills.
  • 12 of 14 shelters damaged by IDF incursions during the second intifada repaired.

UNRWA Health Programme

  • UNRWA health centre: 1
  • Other health centres: 1, run by the Palestinian Authority (PA), services limited to public security officers and their families
  • 1 physiotherapy unit

UNRWA Microfinance Programme

  • Loan beneficiaries: 7 residents
  • Total value: $8,757

UNRWA Emergency Programme

  • 864 families receiving emergency food and cash assistance

Community Services

  • 1 Community Based Rehabilitation Centre,
  • 1 kindergarten,
  • 1 Woman’s Programme Centre,
  • 1 mosque
  • 1 library