BALATA REFUGEE CAMP - Nablus, Palestine

We had always heard that the refugee camps were places of violence and to stay away from them.  You can imagine our surprise when Sami invited us to visit friends of his that lived in Balata refugee camp in Nablus. 

First, here is a short video made by travel celebrity, RICK STEVES when he visited a short time ago. Just click on the link for the short film.

  RICK STEVES VISITS BALATA REFUGEE CAMP

 

These pictures are all ones that Allie and I took 

 

We were invited into the home of the Khalifa family.  Devoutly Muslim, it was very unusual for their daughters to come into the room uncovered, but Sami is a long time family friend.  Mr. Khalifa gets work two months out of the year acting as the custodian for one of the UN schools.  We wound through the narrow passageways to a dark stairwell.  We went up three flights of broken concrete steps to get to the three small rooms where 7 people live. 

Immediately when we sat down, I heard the little girl scurry out the door.  She came back with a half liter of Coke and a small package of sugar wafers.  They were served to us on a tray with tiny cups.  I could hardly breathe because I was holding back a flood of tears and emotions.  We listened to their stories.  Mrs. Khalifas' sister was shot by sniper through her kitchen window before they moved to the camp.  Mr. Khalifa has known only the refugee camp.  His family was driven out of their homes and he lived as an orphan in the camp for years.  He has health issues, but medicine is not an option.

I asked if we could take a family photo....afraid that I was intruding.  They were so glad to have a photo of their family....I will send them one for their empty walls. 

It was sundown, and time for evening prayers for them.  Electricity to the streets had been cut off while we were there, so Mr. Khalifa held my hand and tried to get me safely down the three flights of stairs by the light of his small flip phone. 

When we got back to our comfortable room at the Nairouz home, Allie and I sat in silence for quite some time, just trying to comprehend 50,000 people living in one of these camps. 

 

I will never forget this place.  I will work fervently to get one of the girls out of the camp and into school somewhere so they can get their family out.  The family will get a portrait for their wall.