09/26/2003

Some 1.3 million Palestinian refugees continue to live in recognized camps in Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip.  In the West Bank, approximately three quarters of the more than 600,000 refugees live in towns and villages.  Others, like Mamoud, live in one of nineteen camps.  Dheisheh camp, which was established in 1949 and is where Mamoud lives, is located just within the municipal boundary of Bethlehem. With a population of 10,000, living conditions are very cramped.   

Curfews and closures imposed on the West Bank by the Israeli military have hit the camps hard, since some residents are largely dependent on income from work inside Israel.   As a result, unemployment has risen and socio-economic conditions in the camps have deteriorated further.  Mamoud told RI that he used to work in Israel for between 60 and100 shekels a day (USD $13 to 23), as did some 4,000 other men from the camp.  Now, only about 100 men are able to cross, and they are willing to do similar jobs for 20 shekels (USD $1).  He is not one of them.  Mamoud then tells the story of one young man who crossed into Israel illegally so he could work.  When he was caught, the soldiers broke his leg.

As the father of ten children, Mamoud is concerned about problems of access.  There is generally inadequate infrastructure and socio-economic conditions in the camps are generally poor.   Access to water is a problem, Mamoud says, “Israel doesn't release much.” He describes how restrictions on movement affect access to healthcare.  He says people in the camp who need treatment that is beyond the services offered at the clinic in the camp cannot get to Jerusalem.  Talking about medical needs reminds him of one of the nights during Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield when tanks rolled through the camp.  It was a time when his neighbor was shot, his brothers were arrested, his wife’s watch was stolen, and his 12-year old son was beaten.  

The UN Relief and Works Agency’s (UNRWA) responsibility in the camps is limited to providing services and administering its installations.  UNRWA has a camp services office in each camp, which the residents visit to update their records or to raise issues relating to Agency services with the Camp Services Officer.  Despite their best efforts, Mamoud said, “There is not enough food.”  He continued, “But even if there is only bread and salt to eat, people will not leave.”