Overview of Iron Al-Hilwey Refugee Camp

Iron Al-Hilwey is the largest refugee camp for Palestinians in Lebanon, initially established in 1948 to house Palestinian refugees. The camp's population has fluctuated over the years, currently housing around 54,000 Palestinians in cramped and difficult conditions. The camp is self-governed and has poor infrastructure, but still provides basic amenities such as schools and hospitals. The Lebanese military is not involved in the camp due to an agreement that allows Palestinians to have control over it and use it as a base for fighting against Israel. The camp is a complex urban environment, heavily built-up with two-story concrete buildings.