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Jerash Camp (Gaze one) in Jordan

Mukhayyam Ghazza (Gaza camp), officially called Jerash camp, was established in 1968, a year after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It was planned to be an “emergency” shelter for 11,500 up to as many as 14,000 refugees fleeing the Gaza Strip. In 2002 the camp’s population was estimated at around 15,000, that is: 2,800 families living in 2,100 houses. Today, it is thought to host “more than 24,000 registered refugees” (as stated by UNRWA), or more precisely 28,000 people, the latter seeming to be the most popular estimation. But some even say that 50,000 refugees live here Today it is said to occupy an area of around 750,000 square metres (UNRWA estimation) up to 1 square kilometre. But in fact it is hard to define its boundaries. It is also difficult to imagine that from the original 1,500 tents that stood here in 1968, it soon evolved into 2000 “prefabricated shelters” built with emergency donations (1968-1971) which in turn over following decades refugees themselves developed into more solid structures. All these houses, once constructed as temporary shelters for Gaza refugees, today are their permanent home. Unlike other Palestinians in Jordan, the "ex-Gaza" refugees at Jerash were not given Jordanian citizenship, and do not have rights to own property or work in the country. The situation has taken a toll on Gazan refugees, who have also lost their residency rights in Gaza and hence cannot return home. Camp residents complain of high unemployment among skilled youth, and say they are frustrated by restrictions that prevent them from owning land or starting independent businesses outside of the camp. (Photo by Michaud Gael/NurPhoto)

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