Jenin refugee camp - conditions

Question

The Jenin refugee camp, established in 1953 in the northern West Bank, was created to house Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes during and after the 1948 Palestine War by Israeli forces. Known as "the martyr's capital," it has evolved into a stronghold for Palestinian resistance, earning the nickname "the hornet's nest" by Israel.

Demographics and camp conditions: 

Characterized by a high population density (33,000/km2 by the UNRWA), the camp faces challenging living conditions due, in part, to Israeli restrictions. A high unemployment rate, compared to the rest of the West Bank, along with substandard shelters, poor sewage networks, and frequent shortages of water and electricity, further compound the difficulties faced by the refugees.

Israeli Occupation:

This camp has been the backdrop for significant events in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and ongoing clashes persist between Israeli forces and the Palestinian Resistance. It was a focal point during the 2002 Battle of Jenin, and continues to be the site of ongoing clashes between Israeli forces and the Palestinian Resistance.