Press Releases

Since the start of Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian refugee camps have been heavily targeted by Israel as it seeks to suppress resistance through nightly raids, killings, arbitrary arrests, destruction of homes and infrastructure and collective punishment.

Thus, BADIL and six member organizations of the Global Palestinian Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Network (GPRN), began implementing several community initiatives in six refugee camps in the West Bank: Jenin Refugee Camp, Balata Refugee Camp, Tulkarem Refugee Camp, Nur Shams Refugee Camp, Aida Refugee Camp, and Dheisheh Refugee Camp. Each partner organization has designed its initiative to its specific field of work, based on the needs of the refugees in each camp. The target groups include children, women, and youth, all with the aim of enhancing community’s resilience and ability to resist Israel’s escalated suppression policies and practices.

Not to Forget Association, Jenin Refugee Camp, “Safe Space for Children” Initiative: creating a safe space for children by establishing a children’s room featuring basic playground equipment, children’s books, and educational and recreational materials.

Yafa Cultural Center, Balata Refugee Camp, “Empowering Children Psychologically and Socially” Initiative: targeting 40 children through 30 workshops designed to provide psychological care and support to alleviate the fear and trauma resulting from the near-daily Israeli raids, killing and destruction in Balata Camp.

Al Awda Center, Tulkarem Refugee Camp, “Productive and Creative Youth” Initiative: in partnership with a youth cooperative, creating an alternative economic approach through investing in the available spaces for culture inside youth homes, develop and equip them with the tools and needs to learn and produce. The program includes three training courses for 45 young men and women, that aim at teaching them various skills in recycling (glass, clothing/fabrics, and wood) and provide a source of income.

Nur Shams Charitable Association for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Nur Shams Refugee Camp, “Empowered Creative Women” Initiative: a series of workshops that train 45 women from low or no-income households in the camp, to make dolls/toys, accessories, candles and glass painting in order to provide alternative income.

Lajee’ Center, Aida Refugee Camp, “Empowering Refugee Women” Initiative: aiming to contribute to the economic, social, and political rights of refugee women in Aida and Azzeh refugee camps through a series of workshops to establish a women's unit, which will be followed by the establishment of two women’s cooperatives. These cooperatives will be provided with support and tools to assist in developing women’s skills in food production, handcrafts, packaging, marketing, advertising, and communications.

Ibda’a Cultural Center, Dheisheh Refugee Camp, “Children’s Summer Camp” Initiative: targeting 100 children from the camp, through the implementation of educational and recreational activities designed to empower children and enhance their skills while providing them with psychological support.

These initiatives are part of BADIL's strategic program to strengthen the resistance and resilience of the Palestinian people, particularly refugees, and subsets of this sector that are more marginalized and vulnerable. Their importance is underscored by Israel’s policies and practices of the suppression of resistance under the umbrella of the ongoing genocide on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for over nine months now.