The Shatila refugee camp, in Beitrut, Lebanon has been hosting Palestinians since 1949. Obviously such a lifelong displacement wrought havoc with the refugees’ careers and livelihoods. Always hoping to return home, and in some cases having no basis on which to start a new life in their host countries, these refugees have had an impoverished existence. Like their fellows in Syrian camps, such as at Latakia (which we visited in 2010), they are also gravely threatened by the present wars in the region.
Setting off tomorrow (25th July 2014), the Creative Humanity Partnership will be taking a convoy to the Shatila refugee camp. Their convoy includes one of our former colleagues with whom we have worked in Gaza, and we wish them the very best of luck carrying much-needed basic supplies to this deeply deprived long-term refugee camp. They are particularly focusing on items for children there, and will be including everything from sports equipment to nappies! There will also be educational and play items for children, and clothing for children and adults.
You can find out more about the organisation on their Facebook page.
They’ve also made a great video trailer for their project, partly using some footage from their previous, pilot trip.
(If the video loads slowly from our server, you can try directly on a dedicated video site, vimeo.)