LIFE IN A PALESTINIAN
REFUGEE CAMP
Few people can imagine
what life is like living in a refugee camp. Palestinians
have been living as refugees in camps since 1948 when they
were forced out of their homes by the new Jewish immigrants
who just arrived from Europe intending to create the new
Jewish-only state of Israel. Today, eighty percent of
Palestinians are refugees, many in their own country.
It is a painful story
and quite difficult to comprehend. How a people, who have
suffered bigotry and hate, would attempt to create a home
for themselves by ethnically cleansing an entire population
of an indigenous people is astounding. But that is exactly
what has been happening to the Palestinian people since
the creation of Israel.
As horrific as life has been for Palestinians since the
imposition of the Jewish State of Israel, many have tried
to make the best of their situation however humanly possible.
One such project is the Ibdaa Cultural Center located at the Dheisheh Refugee
Camp. Ibdaa means "to create something out of nothing." As is specified
on their web site: the Ibdaa Cultural Center is a grassroots initiative of
the Dheisheh Refugee Camp. Founded in 1995, Ibdaa serves over 1,200 children
and young people annually through various programs, while providing job opportunities
to over 25 families in the camp.
Ibdaa's mission is to provide an environment
for the camp's children and young people to develop their
abilities, creativity and leadership skills through social,
cultural and educational activities not otherwise available.
Ibdaa strives to empower children and instill in them the confidence and strength
necessary to face up to their difficult future, while educating the international
community about the Palestinian refugee issue.
Another such initiative is Save the Children UK's Web Project
Eye
to Eye. Read an article by UK Independent
Columnist Robert Fisk on Eye to Eye.
More information on Life in a Palestinian Refugee Camp can be found at the United
Nations UNRWA Web Site.
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