JALAZONE REFUGEE CAMP PROFILE

Jalazone camp was established in 1949 on .253 square kilometres of rocky hillside 7 kilometers north of Ramallah. Most of the original refugees came from 36 villages in the Lydda and Ramleh areas. Like other West Bank campus, it was established on land UNRWA leased from the government of Jordan. The camp came under joint Israeli-Palestinian control following the Oslo agreements.

All shelters are connected to public water and electricity, but many are not connected to the sewerage system, instead using private latrines connected to percolation pits or allowing waste water to flood into the roads. Small businesses in the camp have increased as it has become increasingly difficult for workers to gain access to the Israeli labour market.

Registered Refugees

• Total: 11,182 (December 2007)
• Average family size: 4.7
• Average monthly income: NIS 1,100
• Average Age: 24.4
• Demographic Profile

UNRWA Education Programme

• Schools: 2 single-sex elementary/preparatory school; the girls’ school operates on a two-shift basis
• Pupils: 2045

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

• Food distribution centre: 1
• Employment guidance centre: 1
• Social Safety Net (SSN) Programme beneficiaries: 278 families
• UNRWA collects trash and transports it to the Ramallah al-Birreh landfill

UNRWA Microfinance Programme

• Loan beneficiaries: 52 residents
• Total value: $38,983

UNRWA Health Programme

• UNRWA health centre: 1, with 2,611 active family files
• Physiotherapy unit: 1
• Other health centres: 2, private

UNRWA Emergency Programme

• 2100 families receiving emergency food and cash assistance

Community Services

• 1 Community based Rehabilitation Centre

• 1 youth activity centre

• 1 children’s center

• 4 kindergartens

• 1 women’s programme centre

• 1 Senior citizens’ program centre

• 3 mosques

• 1 playground

• 2 local NGOs provide services in the camp.