Canada Camp
Encyclopedia
Following Israel’s
occupation of the Sinai in 1967, some 5,000 Palestinian refugees in Rafah
were forced to relocate when their shelters were destroyed by the Israeli authorities during road widening and "security measures" of the early 1970s. These refugees were relocated to an extension of the Rafah refugee camp
that was constructed on formerly Egyptian soil This camp became known as Canada Camp after the Canadian Contingent to UNEF
(the first United nations Emergency Force, November 1956 – June 1967) that had been present in the area.
Following the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel
in 1979, which resulted from the 1978 Camp David Accords
, Israel withdrew from the Sinai, and the boundary between Egypt
and Israel
was redrawn in 1982. These some 5,000 UNRWA registered refugees found themselves stranded on the Egyptian side of the line. Under the Camp David Accords
, Israel and Egypt had agreed on the repatriation of these refugees to the Gaza Strip
, and all the Canada camp residents believed, as they had been told, that within 6 months they would be back in the Gaza Strip. However, funding problems, bureaucratic delays, lack of political will and difficult security conditions prolonged the process.
Life for refugees in Canada Camp was particularly hard, as they were cut off from work in both Gaza and Israel, and unable to work in Egypt, in fact, they had to pay every six months to have their Egyptian visas renewed. Family and friends, unable to see each other due to the practical impossibility of gaining the necessary permits, could only communicate at the “shouting fence” across the border strip. higher education and proper health care were only available by paying fees much higher than most people could afford. For treatment of serious medical problems, Canada Camp residents would have to pay locally or travel to the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital in Cairo.
It was not until 1989 that a mechanism for the return of these refugees to the Gaza Strip was established, and, with pressure and financial support from the government of Canada and the Kuwait
i fund for Arab Economic Development, together with effort from the other players (namely UNRWA, Israel and the Palestinian Authority) refugees started moving across the border, mainly to the Tall as-Sultan
district of Rafah. It was not until December 27, 2000 that the last families were able to return (Wilkinson, 2001). Canada also provided funds for the construction of a community centre in Tall as-Sultan for the benefit of the returning families (Wilkinson, 2001).
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
occupation of the Sinai in 1967, some 5,000 Palestinian refugees in Rafah
Rafah
Rafah , also known as Rafiah, is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. Located south of Gaza, Rafah's population of 71,003 is overwhelmingly made up of Palestinian refugees. Rafah camp and Tall as-Sultan form separate localities. Rafah is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate...
were forced to relocate when their shelters were destroyed by the Israeli authorities during road widening and "security measures" of the early 1970s. These refugees were relocated to an extension of the Rafah refugee camp
Rafah camp
Rafah camp is one of eight Palestinian refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. It is located in the Rafah Governorate along the Egyptian-Palestinian Authority border. It was established in 1949 and currently forms part of the city of Rafah...
that was constructed on formerly Egyptian soil This camp became known as Canada Camp after the Canadian Contingent to UNEF
United Nations Emergency Force
The first United Nations Emergency Force was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution 1001 on November 7, 1956. The force was developed in large measure as a result of efforts by UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and a proposal...
(the first United nations Emergency Force, November 1956 – June 1967) that had been present in the area.
Following the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel
Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty
The 1979 Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty was signed in Washington, D.C. on the 26th of March 1979, following the 1978 Camp David Accords, which were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and were witnessed by United States President Jimmy Carter.The peace...
in 1979, which resulted from the 1978 Camp David Accords
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following thirteen days of secret negotiations at Camp David. The two framework agreements were signed at the White House, and were witnessed by United States...
, Israel withdrew from the Sinai, and the boundary between Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
was redrawn in 1982. These some 5,000 UNRWA registered refugees found themselves stranded on the Egyptian side of the line. Under the Camp David Accords
Camp David Accords
The Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following thirteen days of secret negotiations at Camp David. The two framework agreements were signed at the White House, and were witnessed by United States...
, Israel and Egypt had agreed on the repatriation of these refugees to the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
, and all the Canada camp residents believed, as they had been told, that within 6 months they would be back in the Gaza Strip. However, funding problems, bureaucratic delays, lack of political will and difficult security conditions prolonged the process.
Life for refugees in Canada Camp was particularly hard, as they were cut off from work in both Gaza and Israel, and unable to work in Egypt, in fact, they had to pay every six months to have their Egyptian visas renewed. Family and friends, unable to see each other due to the practical impossibility of gaining the necessary permits, could only communicate at the “shouting fence” across the border strip. higher education and proper health care were only available by paying fees much higher than most people could afford. For treatment of serious medical problems, Canada Camp residents would have to pay locally or travel to the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital in Cairo.
It was not until 1989 that a mechanism for the return of these refugees to the Gaza Strip was established, and, with pressure and financial support from the government of Canada and the Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i fund for Arab Economic Development, together with effort from the other players (namely UNRWA, Israel and the Palestinian Authority) refugees started moving across the border, mainly to the Tall as-Sultan
Tall as-Sultan
Tall as-Sultan is one of eight Palestinian refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. It is located in the Rafah Governorate just North of Rafah city and Rafah camp. It was established mainly to absorb refugees repatriated from Canada Camp....
district of Rafah. It was not until December 27, 2000 that the last families were able to return (Wilkinson, 2001). Canada also provided funds for the construction of a community centre in Tall as-Sultan for the benefit of the returning families (Wilkinson, 2001).