Am'ari camp

Am’ari camp, located east of Ramallah city in al-Bireh municipality, is one of the smallest camps in the West Bank. Before the first intifada, many refugees living in Am’ari camp were able to move to surrounding villages and cities. However, the construction of the West Bank Barrier, expansion of Ramallah and rising property prices has meant that this has become prohibitively expensive for most residents.

Am’ari refugee camp. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Dominiek Benoot

Am’ari refugee camp. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Dominiek Benoot

The growing population remains a challenge for service provision as well as on the existing infrastructure in the camp, while also contributing to overcrowding and poor living conditions.

Residents in Am’ari report that unemployment in the camp is rising, especially among young men. This rate has increased substantially in recent years, in part due to the decrease in the number of Israeli work permits issued to camp residents.

In accordance with the Oslo Accords, Am’ari camp is located in Area A and is thus under the control of the Palestinian Authority. However, incursions and detentions of residents by the Israeli military occur on a frequent basis.

For more information about Am'ari Camp (click here

REFUGEE CAMPS IN the West Bank

We provide services in 19 Palestine refugee camps in the West Bank. UNRWA does not administer or police the camps, as this is the responsibility of the host authorities.

Quick Facts

Refugees in camps

  • The camp has an estimated population density of 72,916 per sq km
  • There are 15,315* Palestine Refugees registered in the camp as of 2022

    * 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

Official camps

  • Am’ari camp was established in 1949
  • One of the smallest camps in the West Bank, it sets on .096 sq km
Unrwa In Am'ari camp

Schools

  • Am’ari camp has two UNRWA schools, a boys‘ school and a girls’ school, located at the border of the camp. They serve 1,129 students from first to ninth grade

Health Centre

  • One UNRWA health centre provides primary health services including reproductive health, infant and child care, immunizations, screening and medical check-ups and treatment