Jerash Camp

Jerash camp was set up as an ‘emergency’ camp in 1968 for 11,500 Palestine refugees and displaced persons who were displaced from the Gaza Strip as a result of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It is known locally as Gaza camp. The camp covers an area of 0.75 square kilometres and is situated five kilometres from the famous Roman ruins of Jerash. After 1967, UNRWA quickly set up facilities for food aid, sanitation, health services and education.

In order to withstand the harsh winters, the original 1,500 tents were replaced with prefabricated shelters.

Between 1968 and 1971, 2,000 shelters were built with support from emergency donations. Over the years, many of the camp’s inhabitants have replaced the prefabs with more durable concrete shelters. Many roofs are still made of corrugated zinc and asbestos sheets, which can cause diseases such as cancer.

MAJOR CHALLENGES

According to a 2013 FaFo report, Jerash camp is the poorest among the ten Palestine refugee camps in Jordan, with 52.7 per cent of Palestine refugees having an income below the national poverty line of JD 814. Jerash camp also has the highest number of Palestine refugees who do not have health insurance, with 88 per cent of refugees uninsured.