Bourj el-Barajneh, Palestinian refugee camp in southern Beirut, Lebanon.
Bourj el-Barajneh is a Palestinian refugee camp located in southern Beirut with densely packed streets covering roughly two square kilometers. It houses more than 31,000 people in tightly built neighborhoods with residential structures, small shops, and community facilities.
The camp was established in 1948 by the League of Red Cross Societies to accommodate Palestinian families from Galilee who had been displaced during regional conflicts. This founding marked the beginning of a long-term settlement for displaced people in the Beirut area.
The neighborhoods within this camp carry names connected to original Palestinian villages, keeping residents linked to their ancestral lands. These place names help people maintain their sense of home and remember where their families came from.
The camp is densely built with narrow lanes and can be explored on foot at a leisurely pace to take in the surroundings. UNRWA facilities including schools and clinics serve as key points where visitors can learn about daily life in the settlement.
The camp relies on a limited well system that creates ongoing challenges with water supply and quality. UNICEF works continuously to address these basic infrastructure needs and ensure residents have access to adequate water.
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