Lebanon: Palestinian Camps Support Campaign

The Australian Palestinian Camps Support Campaign is solely funded by individual donations from the Australian community to support the elderly and disabled in Burj el Barajneh refugee camp, Beirut, Lebanon.

Jamal being treated by a nurse with WHO

The program which is implemented by the Women's Humanitarian Organisation (WHO) ensures the most disadvantaged groups get access to medical provisions. This assistance may include supply of medical and therapeutic products, financial support for urgent medical tests and access to medical services when patients are immobile. Other activities include the supply of Iftar meals during Ramadam and special outings.

This past year has seen increasing political unrest in Lebanon. The ongoing political assassinations have compounded feelings of insecurity and uncertainty for the now 20,000 Palestinians registered by UNRWA in Burj el-Barajneh refugee camp. As the population grows the area of the camp remains the same, making it difficult to absorb the ever-increasing population. Additional rooms have been added to existing buildings, often to the detriment of the narrow alleyways between them, and further blocking possible sunshine entering the camp. Life inside the camps is harsh. According to UNRWA, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have the highest rate of people living in "abject poverty" of all the Palestinian refugee communities they serve. The sight of sewage waters in the street is commonplace. Palestinian refugees have little choice than to live in such poor living conditions. This is in violation of their fundamental right -- the right to an adequate standard of living. To this day, the international community has failed to find an adequate, durable and sustainable solution to their problem and that of the millions of Palestinian refugees scattered around the world. For over 57 years, they remain excluded from the international system for the protection of refugees.

Camps Campaign Support

Contributions of approximately A$5,000 in the past financial year supported 137 elderly and 20 disabled refugees living in these conditions. Essential medications and medical supplies were provided for 12 elderly and therapeutic products for 35 most disadvantaged elderly and 20 disabled in the camp. Donations also covered the cost of Iftar meals during Ramadan for 90 elderly residents of the camp.

The 12 who benefited from medical support received some support to obtain urgent blood tests and x-rays that the cost of which made them unobtainable otherwise. In addition assistance was provided for immobile patients in order to make it possible for them to reach the clinics and hospital.

An important source of assistance provided through the Camps Support Campaign funding is the supply of incontinence pads to the elderly and disabled. This assistance is most valuable as the pads prevent complications from bed sores which are very expensive to treat and can be fatal. The sanitary pads also give the elderly more comfort and greater freedom to move outside the home without fear of accidents thereby improving their quality of life. As these sanitary aids are extremely expensive these elderly people's lives would be very different without this support.

Jamal's story

Aged 72, Jamal had a cerebrovascular accident (a sudden loss of consciousness resulting from a rupture of a blood vessel leading to a lack of oxygen in the brain) in July 2004. Since then she has been completely immobile, lying on a small bed in their crowded and tiny room. Her husband is the only person to care for her but he too has had a stroke which has affected his leg. He said he feels helpless and tired because he cannot sleep. He spends his time staying by his wife's side helping as he can. They lost 3 sons during the 1982 war and their 3 daughters live outside the camp. Jamal also suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and bed sores. During an Israeli bombing raid in the early 1980's she lost her toes on her left foot. The Camps Support Campaign has assisted Jamal with incontinence pads and medical care.

You can support this work in the Middle East by becoming a donor today.

Download full report:
Palestinian Camps Support Campaign 2006-07Donor Report [ pdf ]

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Last Modified: Wednesday, 19-Dec-2007 15:23:56 EST
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