TULKAREM REFUGEE CAMP

Tulkarem camp was established in 1950 on .18 square kilometres within the municipal boundaries of Tulkarm on the western edge of the West Bank. It is the second largest camp in the West Bank. Its original refugees came from villages and cities in the Haifa, Jaffa and Kissaria areas. The camp came under Palestinian Authority control in 1995. Like other West Bank campus, it was established on land UNRWA leased from the government of Jordan.

All shelters are connected to public water and electricity infrastructure. The sewerage system is insufficient, since heavy rains in winter cause old sewage lines to flood dirty water, especially in the areas where the schools are located.

Registered Refugees

• Total: 18,310 (December 2007)
• Average family size: 4.8
• Poverty rate: 55.1%; 39.4% in absolute poverty
• Unemployment rate: 34.1%
• Average monthly income: NIS 1,722
• Average Age: 23.6
• Demographic Profile

UNRWA Education Programme

• Schools: 5 single-sex elementary/preparatory schools. One of the girls’ elementary schools operates on a two-shift basis.
• Pupils: 2145

UNRWA Relief and Social Services Programme

• Food distribution centre: 1
• Social Safety Net (SSN) Programme beneficiaries: 415 families
• UNRWA collects trash and disposes of it at the Tulkarem landfill
• 35 of 37 shelters damaged by IDF incursions during the second intifada repaired.

UNRWA Microfinance Programme

• Loan beneficiaries: 90 residents
• Total value: $78,248

UNRWA Health Programme

• UNRWA health centre: 1, with 6,345 active family files
• 1 physiotherapy unit
• Other health centres: 2; 1 private clinic and 2 dental clinics

UNRWA Emergency Programme

• 2,500 families receiving emergency food and cash assistance

Community Services

• 1 Community based Rehabilitation Centre

• 1 youth activity centre

• 4 kindergartens

• 1 women’s programme centre

• 1 mosques

• 1 library

• Local NGOs are active in the camp.