Beach camp, Gaza Strip. © 2016 UNRWA Photo by Tamer Hamam
Beach refugee camp is the third largest of the Gaza Strip’s eight refugee camps, and one of the most crowded. Locally known as ‘Shati’, the camp is on the Mediterranean coast in the Gaza City area. 90,173 Palestine Refugees are registered with UNRWA in Beach camp.
The camp is built on an area of only 0.52 square kilometers. Streets and alleys in the camp are often very narrow and the area is considered one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
BLOCKADE
Unemployment has risen considerably since the blockade was imposed on the Gaza Strip, making life more difficult for most refugees in Beach camp. Far fewer families can provide for themselves, and a huge proportion of the population is dependent on the UNRWA food assistance program.
FISHING LIMIT
The permissible fishing zone in Gaza and North Gaza is six nautical miles. The Israeli imposition of restrictions on the Gaza Strip’s fishing zone have particularly affected Beach camp. The diminished fishing catch has led to a loss of livelihoods and increased poverty. In addition, practices used by the Israeli navy to enforce the fishing limits, including the firing of live ammunition, have raised a range of protection concerns. Overall, around 90 shooting incidents were recorded in North Gaza in the first half of 2023, resulting in the injury of nine fishermen, and the arrest of thirteen Palestinians, including one child.
STATISTICS
MAJOR PROBLEMS
INFRASTRUCTURE & CAMP IMPROVEMENT
Overcrowding and a lack of living space characterize Beach camp. Shelters are built in close proximity to one another and there is a general lack of recreational and social space. In many cases, residents have had to add extra floors to their shelters to accommodate their families. Often, these lack proper design. Many residents in the camp live in substandard conditions.
*Last Update in July 2023.
There are 90,713* Palestine Refugees registered in the camp as of 2023
* This figure does not claim to represent the actual number of Palestine Refugees present in the camp but merely the number of Palestine Refugees registered with UNRWA in the camp
Covering an area of 0.52 sq km.
Beach camp is one of the most densely populated areas worldwide
15 school buildings, accommodating 26 schools in total
One health centre provides primary health services to camp residents
One relief and social services office provides social services to refugees in the camp
