Source: American Near East Refugee Aid
Country: Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic
The ancient ruins of Baalbek are pictured on many a postcard from Lebanon. Just a short drive from Beirut, the city draws tourists from around the world. It’s nestled in the Bekaa Valley, a mountainous region known for its farms and vineyards.
But few people know that the city also hosts a large population of refugees. The Wavel refugee camp (also known as Al Jalil) lies on the outskirts of Baalbek. It was established in 1952 to house 8,000 Palestinian refugees. But over the decades, the lack of economic opportunity in the rural area meant that many migrated elsewhere to live and make a living. Now there are about 3,000 Palestinian refugees left at Wavel Camp.