Fields of Operation
Gaza has a population of approximately 1.5 million, an estimated 1.1 million of these are refugees registered with UNRWA. UNRWA operates 8 refugee camps and 238 schools in Gaza. The socio-economic situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate under Israel’s ongoing blockade. In addition to UNRWA’s standard programs, the Agency focuses heavily on emergency relief in Gaza including food aid through programs like Emergency School Feeding and short-term employment.
Click here to learn more about UNRWA’s programs in Gaza.
There are approximately 689,000 refugees registered with UNRWA in the West Bank. A quarter of these refugees live in 19 different refugee camps. The rest live in villages, cities and Bedouin communities. Unemployment is a growing problem for refugees in the West Bank, and many have been adversely affected by closures on the West Bank which prevents them from seeking work inside Israel. Some communities are threatened by demolitions to make space for expanding Israeli settlement.
Click here to learn more about UNRWA’s programs in the West Bank.
There are approximately 496,000 Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA in Syria. UNRWA provides education, health, and relief and social services to nearly 470,000 refugees living in 9 official and 3 unofficial refugee camps. Palestian refugees have the same rights and privileges as Syrian citizens, but are denied citizenship. The Agency is struggling to cope with the needs of an increasing refugee population in the country.
Click here to learn more about UNRWA’s programs in Syria.
More than 2 million refugees are registered with UNRWA in Jordan. UNRWA operates 10 refugee camps and 127 schools in Jordan. All Palestian refugees in Jordan have full Jordanian citizenship, apart from the roughly 120,000 refugees originally from the Gaza Strip who are denied government employment and the right to vote.
Click here to learn more about UNRWA’s programs in Jordan.
There are approximately 422,000 Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, where UNRWA operates 12 refugee camps and 74 schools. The government denies Palestinian refugees social and civil rights and severely limits their access to public services. Most Palestian refugees in Lebanon rely entirely on UNRWA as the sole provider of many essential services.
