In Pictures

Gallery|Humanitarian Crises

In Pictures: Gazan refugees living in limbo

Thousands of Palestinian refugees in northern Jordan lack citizenship rights in the country, but cannot return home.

Jerash camp has the highest poverty rate among Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan and a large proportion of substandard shelters, according to UNRWA.
By Megan O'Toole
Published On 5 Jun 2014

Gaza camp, Jordan – In the wake of the 1967 Six-Day War, thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip flocked to northern Jordan, finding refuge amid the mountains of Jerash.

Jerash camp, known locally as Gaza camp, originally housed 11,500 refugees. But while most Palestinian refugees in the country were naturalised decades ago when Jordan annexed the West Bank, ex-Gazans were never granted citizenship, as Gaza was administered by Egypt when they fled; instead, they received temporary Jordanian passports that must be renewed biennially.

Since then, the population of Gaza camp has risen to more than 27,000, confirmed UNRWA, the United Nations refugee agency.

“Although some concessions are made for ex-Gazans, they are broadly treated by Jordan as Arab foreigners and pay taxes whenever they interact with the state,” UNRWA spokesperson Christopher Gunness told Al Jazeera. “In terms of employment, this results in a number of restrictions on the professions and employment opportunities available to ex-Gazans.”

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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.

“The hugest challenge is that we have no civil rights,” said Mohammed Saleh Abu Atielh, who operates a small store within the camp selling electronic components for buildings. “We are considered as guests in this country.” 

"If a person has nothing in life, all the problems will face him," Naffeh Hamed Akel, pictured at right, told Al Jazeera. "We don(***)t own anything. They kicked us out of our country with only the clothes on our backs."
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Refugees can open their own small businesses inside the camp, but cannot do so outside the camp unless they have a Jordanian partner.
According to the Department of Palestinian Affairs, the state of Jordan is aiming to help the poverty-stricken camp by bringing in European funders.
UNRWA estimates that about 75 percent of shelters in Gaza camp are not suitable for accommodation because of serious structural problems.
Within the camp(***)s boundaries are four schools, a women(***)s programme centre, a food distribution centre, a health centre and a community-based rehabilitation centre.
Ex-Gazans are not allowed to work with the government, which is Jordan(***)s primary employer, and are barred from practicing in a number of professions, including law, agriculture, engineering and health care.
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The UN refugee agency provides various forms of aid to residents of the camp, including free basic education and health services.
Inaam Mahmoud Hassan told Al Jazeera it has been challenging to raise a family in Gaza camp: "We don(***)t have any opportunities. We don(***)t have jobs. You go to school and then you sit at home."
Many refugees have replaced their prefabricated shelters with concrete structures, UNRWA noted, but many roofs are still made of corrugated zinc and asbestos, which can cause cancer.
"Services are not that great," Rafat Maroqz Abu Shab, who runs a small furniture shop inside Gaza camp, told Al Jazeera. "We don(***)t get [sufficient] aid."
Residents believe their situation could improve if they were granted Jordanian citizenship, noting some youth are going hungry because they cannot find work.