The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) lists nearly 400,000 refugees in Lebanon, while some studies estimate 270,000 Palestinian refugees living there. Around half of the Palestinians live in cramped and stressful conditions in 12 refugee camps across the country The Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon have become a hotspot for potential escalation. Lebanese security forces do not enter the camps. The largest Palestinian camp in Lebanon is Ain el-Hiiweh with upwards of 66,000 refugees in an area of 2 km2. All Palestinian political parties and Islamic groups are represented in Ain el-Hilweh, and perpetually compete for influence and power, resulting in occasional armed clashes within the camp. Children are the most disadvantaged. Educational and social care at UNRWA schools is broadly insufficient, and the Palestinian children enrolled there are subjected to violence and marginalization. Children are not engaged in social and cultural activities, resulting in increasing educational gaps and social problems. According to a 2009 UNICEF report, one third of children aged 7-17 are illiterate. Geneva Call's correspondents in the camps explain that many refugee children 'get along' by associating with armed groups. During the previous five years, Geneva Call has successfully engaged both with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (known as Tahaluf).
