A Report on the Psychological Effects of Overcrowding in Refugee Camps in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Source: Prepared for the Expert and Advisory
Services Fund - International Development Research
Centre (IDRC)
by Dr. Randa Farah
April 2000
This work was carried out with
the aid of a grant from the Expert and Advisory
Services Fund which is administered by the International
Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada and
financially supported by the Canadian International
Development Agency in cooperation with the Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
VI. SUGGESTED APPROACHES
Taking into consideration the
political and empirical constraints and realities,
it is possible to mitigate the effects of overcrowding
on refugees, by adopting the two suggested
approaches simultaneously:
- To select problem areas identified
as an urgent need (in this report) by refugees,
community workers, NGO activists and others
who are working in camps and develop projects
which address particular problems. As an example,
to choose early marriages and/or dropouts from
school as issues to tackle through training,
funding and logistical support.
- To adopt a more indirect but
wholistic approach to the social and psychological
problems resulting from overcrowding that
will have a long-term impact. An important
approach is to activate and empower the local
community by providing various kinds of support
to the existing community organizations, which
are currently not very effective.
There are numerous local community organizations,
however, many of these are ineffective and need
support, both in terms of training in skills
and management and materially in terms of equipment
and funding.
Overlapping services is another problem and
this often means that one problem area is covered
by more than one organization, while other areas
are neglected. Consequently, training in human
resource development and planning is important,
especially for employees and volunteers working
in local committees.
Another recommendation is the creation of committees
representing all community-based organizations
within refugee camps to continuously identify
and prioritize problems; to plan, coordinate
and implement programs and projects aimed at
the community as a whole.
Another priority area is to upgrade the knowledge
and skills of employees and volunteers, such
as care for the disabled; seminars and courses
for trainers and to develop local leadership
skills.
It is important to provide logistical, material
and financial support for short-term projects
that will help mitigate problems associated with
overcrowding. However, it is equally important
to simultaneously support projects which empower
the community, by providing training and logistical
support to the community organizations who will
eventually be able to tackle the problems associated
with overcrowding more efficiently. Finally,
while short-term projects may help mitigate and
solve some of the issues related to overcrowding,
the political issues and general poverty are
two major factors which continue to reproduce
overcrowding in refugee camps. |