Beirut
Information
The Shatila refugee camp was set up by the Red Cross to house the thousands of Palestinian refugees who arrived there in 1948. The current population is estimated to be over 22,000 as it’s population has increased with the arrival of Palestinians fleeing the Syrian Civil War. These people are crammed into an area of one square kilometre making it a highly densely populated place to live. The Lebanese government refuses to grant any citizen rights to the Palestinians, some of who have spent their entire lives in Lebanon. The government doesn’t provide any basic services like electricity or water to the camp so the community has had to organise these for themselves. A mass of electrical cables and water pipes dangles above the narrow alleyways as people improvise to get basic provision.
I travelled to the camp to record how the people live under these conditions. I wanted to show how camps such as this develop, the architecture, the chaotic infrastructure and the pressure this puts on the people who must live amongst it.
I travelled to the camp to record how the people live under these conditions. I wanted to show how camps such as this develop, the architecture, the chaotic infrastructure and the pressure this puts on the people who must live amongst it.
Graffiti written under a flout on the old 'Green Line' which divided the city during the civil war.
Street scene, Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene, Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene, Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Teenage boy with your chicks bred at home. Shatila refugee camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene, Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
This is the site of the local hospital. It has been abandoned and since taken over by refugees.
Children playing outside their homes on the roof of the abandoned local hospital.
Street scene, Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Poster commemorating the life of a local policeman Tarek Khalifa. He was off duty at home when he heard some gunfire. He went to investigate and was shot and killed.
Portrait of stall holder. Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene, Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Electrical cables hanging in an alleyway. The Lebanese authorities provide on services to the refugees including electricity and water. Each household is forced to obtain them where they can. the result is hundreds of cables and pipes suspended just above head hight throughout the camp. Shatila refugee camp, Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene, Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Resident of the abandoned hospital. Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Chickens for sale in the market.. Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene. Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene. Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Resident of the abandoned hospital. Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
Street scene. Shatila reggae camp. Beirut. March 2018.
