Irbid camp ranks among the most densely populated areas in Irbid Governorate, concentrating a large population within a narrow geographical footprint and placing persistent strain on public services. Authorities face continuing calls to expand infrastructure and raise the standard of public facilities in step with population growth.
اضافة اعلان
Established in 1951, the camp is home to approximately 35,000 people living across 0.24 square kilometres, or 244 dunams, making it one of the oldest in the Kingdom. Over the decades it has undergone significant urban expansion, with the effects felt across roads, lighting, water and sanitation networks, education, health, and hygiene, as well as sports and social facilities and commercial markets, which serve residents of the camp and surrounding areas alike.
Relevant authorities, principally the Irbid Camp Services Committee, the Department of Palestinian Affairs, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the Greater Irbid Municipality, and other official bodies, have undertaken various service projects. Residents say the efforts fall short of what the camp's density and growth require.
The challenges most frequently cited by residents include narrow internal streets, deteriorating road surfaces, stormwater drainage problems in certain areas, deficiencies in sanitation and lighting, and a lack of employment opportunities.
A resident identified as Abu Ahmad said conditions have improved in recent years but that continuing population growth has created pressures that demand larger, more sustainable solutions. He said streets that once handled traffic without difficulty are now congested every morning and evening, a result of the high volume of vehicles and the camp's busy commercial activity. He called for comprehensive rehabilitation of the infrastructure rather than piecemeal maintenance, and said improving pavements and providing safe pedestrian crossings would benefit the elderly and children in particular.
A resident identified as Umm Muhammad Al-Dawaymeh said health and education services are central to family life and must be the first priority in any development plan. She said existing health and educational institutions are heavily relied upon and need stronger capacity to meet the population's demands. She also called for better lighting, maintained pavements, regular street cleaning, and dedicated children's play areas, describing these as improvements with a direct bearing on quality of life.
Resident Mohammed Al-Khaldi said commercial activity in the camp draws shoppers from neighbouring districts, making it an economic asset for the area, but that traffic congestion and narrow streets create problems for traders and customers alike. He said regulating traffic flow, providing parking, and improving access to the market would boost trade and benefit shop owners and their employees. He also called for investment in vocational training and support for small businesses, which he said would reduce unemployment and improve the economic circumstances of camp families.
Resident Khaled Al-Tamimi said public cleanliness is among the services residents value most highly. He called for more waste containers in certain neighbourhoods and more frequent cleaning campaigns during peak periods, particularly in commercial areas with heavy daily footfall, as measures to protect the environment and public health.
Resident Suad Mahmoud said young people make up the largest share of the camp's population, and that providing modern sports and cultural facilities is therefore a necessity rather than an optional extra. She said training programmes targeting youth and women help them acquire skills and increase their chances of finding work or launching small businesses, contributing to improved household incomes.
Mahmoud Al-Fawaz, head of the Irbid Camp Services Committee, said the committee has implemented a range of service and development projects over the recent period aimed at improving conditions for camp residents and addressing problems affecting daily life.
Al-Fawaz said lighting across the camp had been substantially upgraded through the installation of 1,092 lighting units at various entrances and streets, carried out in cooperation with the Greater Irbid Municipality. He said the project had improved road safety throughout the camp.
On environmental matters, Al-Fawaz said 400 plastic waste containers, each with a capacity of 120 litres, had been distributed across the camp, alongside a programme of regular cleaning campaigns. He said the largest single campaign conducted since he took up his post removed approximately 120 tonnes of waste, a figure documented at the municipal landfill.
Regarding the sewage network, Al-Fawaz said sewer line replacement work valued at approximately $500,000 had been carried out with support from UNICEF, addressing a number of longstanding infrastructure problems. He added that concrete paving had been completed on several deteriorating streets at a cost of approximately 50,000 dinars, with support from the previous governorate council, and that nearly 2,000 square metres of streets had been resurfaced with asphalt mix.
On stormwater drainage, Al-Fawaz said approximately 400 metres of drainage lines had been installed and a large number of related faults resolved, reducing water accumulation and improving drainage performance during winter.
Al-Fawaz acknowledged that training and employment remain areas requiring further support. He said these efforts within the camp are led primarily by the Al-Farouq Association and the Hidayah Center, which run programmes targeting young people. He said a job fair held approximately one month ago resulted in employment opportunities for around 55 young men from the camp. He added that the two organisations together have contributed to approximately 300 training and employment placements, while the Al-Farouq Association alone has trained around 600 young men and women and facilitated employment for 109 individuals through its programmes.
Al-Fawaz said the next phase requires stronger partnership between the camp services committee, official and municipal bodies, supporting institutions, and local associations, in order to resolve remaining service issues, expand opportunities for young people, and raise the standard of infrastructure across the camp.
He noted that the Hidayah Foundation for Community Development has directly benefited more than 3,100 individuals since it began operations in 2019, working across four tracks: supplementary education and academic support; vocational training and economic empowerment; digital empowerment; and community awareness and capacity building.
Of those beneficiaries, 1,470 students received supplementary education and academic support through programmes covering high school graduation preparation, remedial education, educational follow-up for orphans and low-income students, and a scholarship scheme for high achievers. In vocational training and economic empowerment, 364 individuals completed specialised programmes in areas including teacher training for the private sector, cashier and point-of-sale operations, professional readiness, basic digital skills, e-marketing, programming, and accounting and finance. Of that group, 106, representing approximately 29 per cent, went on to enter the workforce. A further 602 individuals benefited from digital empowerment programmes, while community awareness and capacity-building initiatives reached 750 people in areas including life skills, social skills, and home economics.
This article was originally written in Arabic by Ahmed Al-Tamimi for Al Ghad. It was translated into English with AI assistance and edited by Jordan News.
