Wavel, Palestinian refugee camp in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.
Wavel is a Palestinian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, located near the city of Baalbek. The camp includes residential buildings, schools, and community facilities that serve the daily needs of its population.
Wavel camp was set up in 1948 by UNRWA on the grounds of a former French military barracks from the Mandate period, to shelter Palestinian refugees displaced by the Arab-Israeli war of that year. It is one of the oldest refugee camps still in existence in Lebanon.
Wavel is one of the few Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon built within a former military base, which gives it an unusual appearance compared to other camps. The old barracks buildings are still visible today and shape the daily environment of the people who live there.
The camp is located close to the center of Baalbek and can be reached from the main roads of the Bekaa Valley. As it is a residential area where people live their daily lives, visitors should move carefully and respect the privacy of residents.
Wavel is the only Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon located inland, while all other camps are situated along the coast or near Beirut. This position in the Bekaa Valley means residents experience a very different climate compared to those living in the coastal camps.
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