Area: West Bank
Camp Size: 1.67
Population Size: 7,436
Established date: 1948
Background:
Aqbat Jabr camp, located southwest of Jericho in the Jordan valley, is the largest camp in the West Bank by surface area.
Prior to the 1967 hostilities, it was also one of the most populated camps, with approximately 30,000 refugees. During the 1967 hostilities, around 25,000 residents fled.
Currently, the camp shelters 8,000 refugees, making it one the least densely populated camps in the West Bank. Despite this, the camp’s large surface area and the climate of the Jordan Valley pose several challenges, including insufficient waste removal and flooding during winter.
In the absence of a sewerage network, residents use percolation pits that cause a wide range of problems and hazardous living conditions, especially during floods.
In addition, residents struggle with high unemployment and poor shelter conditions. The camp has several active NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) that target different groups in the camp, especially women and youth. While boys have the chance to play sport in a recently-built football stadium, there are limited areas where young women and girls can be active and socialize.
Most of the camp is under full Palestinian control (Area A), with only a small part under Israeli control (Area C), the majority of which is agricultural land. Raising animals is an important source of income for many Bedouin families living in the camp.
