- Burj Shemali camp was established in 1948 near Tyre in southern Lebanon.
Burj Shemali Camp
Burj al-Shemali camp is located 3 km away from the city of Tyre in south Lebanon. It was established in 1948 to provide tented shelter for refugees arriving from Hawla, Tiberias, Saffouriyah and Lubieh. The camp also hosts displaced Palestine Refugees from other parts of Lebanon. It was badly damaged during the Israeli invasion in 1982. Unemployment is extremely high, with seasonal agricultural work being the most common source of income for both men and women.
The ongoing Syria crisis has also led to the additional presence of Syrian refugees and Palestine Refugees from Syria (PRS) in the camp, further straining the infrastructure and services.
Governance and security in the camp are the responsibility of Palestinian Factions. Access for people and building materials is controlled by the Lebanese Armed Forces through checkpoints.
Updated August 2023.
REFUGEE CAMPS IN Lebanon
We provide services in 12 Palestine refugee camps in Lebanon. UNRWA does not administer or police the camps, as this is the responsibility of the host authorities.
Quick Facts
Official camps
Unrwa In Burj Shemali Camp
Schools
- UNRWA runs three primary schools in Burj al-Shemali camp for about 1,800 Palestine Refugee students, including PRS.
- Secondary-age students attend the Aqsa Secondary School in Rashidieh camp.
Health Centre
- There is one UNRWA health centre in Shatila camp providing primary health care.
- The centre receives an average of 229 patients per day.
Social Safety Net Beneficiaries
- A core focus for social protection is providing Social Safety Net (SSN) support to the most vulnerable Palestine Refugees. Assistance is issued quarterly to more than 1,125 families (4,121 individuals) in the camp.
