ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the evolution of the Palestine refugees’ camps as well as the new approach by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in supporting the improvement of the camps. It discusses the significant shift in approach towards camps that was triggered by the 2004 Geneva Conference that led to the establishment of the Infrastructure and Camp Improvement Programme (ICIP). I have served as ICIP’s first Head, Camp Improvement Unit since the Programme was established in 2006. After this introduction the chapter discusses an overview of the evolution
and development of Palestine refugees’ camps (second section). It then discusses UNRWA’s changing role vis-à-vis the camps leading to the establishment of the ICIP (third section). The fourth section provides an overview of the new camp improvement methodology followed by a discussion of challenges related to its introduction in the fifth section. Amongst these challenges are the paradigm shift in the methodology, acceptance by the Agency of shared decision-making with the camp communities and funding. A brief concluding section highlights the dual character of the camp as a symbol and a living space and the challenges this imposes when addressing camp improvement.
