Bourj el-Barajneh facts for kids
Bourj el-Barajneh (which means "Tower of Towers" in Arabic) is a town in Lebanon. It is located just south of Beirut, the capital city. This area is found between Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport and the nearby town of Haret Hreik.
The people living in Bourj el-Barajneh come from different backgrounds. Most are Shia Muslims. However, because housing is affordable and the people are welcoming, many Sunni Muslims and some Maronite Christians also live here. This area is also home to many refugees from different countries, including Kurds, Iraqis, and recently, many Syrian refugees. These refugee groups often live near or inside the Bourj el-Barajneh camp, which is a Palestinian refugee camp. The town itself was first settled by Arab people. It got its name, Barajneh, from a rebel who lived a long time ago.
Bourj el-Barajneh Refugee Camp
The Bourj el-Barajneh Refugee Camp is located right next to the Bourj el-Barajneh town. This camp was set up in 1948. At that time, many families from a village called Tarshiha in Palestine arrived in Beirut. They had to leave their homes because of fighting. The League of Red Cross Societies helped create the camp for them.
Over the years, the camp has seen many difficult times. In 1982, the Israeli army and Lebanese Christian groups surrounded the camp. Later, from 1984 to 1987, a group called the Amal militia also surrounded it during a conflict known as the War of the Camps.
Today, the camp is very crowded. The UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) estimates that over 20,000 Palestinian refugees live there. This is much more than the 10,000 people the camp was originally built for. After the conflict in Syria, even more Syrian refugees moved into the camp, making it even more crowded. Living conditions in the camp are very challenging due to the large number of people in a small space.
Famous People From Bourj el-Barajneh
Some well-known people, especially footballers, have come from Bourj el-Barajneh:
- Ahmad Jalloul (born 1992), a Lebanese football player.
- Ali Sabeh (born 1994), another Lebanese football player.
- Maher Sabra (born 1992), also a Lebanese football player.
