Palestine / Jordan
The Long Journey of Palestinian Refugee Women
The Long Journey of Palestinian Refugee Women
Where: Palestine / Jordan
When: 2013
"The Long Journey of the Palestinian Refugee Women" is a project carried out in several Palestinian refugee camps across Jordan, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, in partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The project ended with an exhibition at the French Institute of Amman during the International Image Festival of Amman, and was also showcased in UNRWA centers within the Gaza Strip.
These photographs offer a contemporary portrait of Palestinian refugee women, testifying not only about their strength and courage, but also the resilience and vitality of their communities. Since being displaced from their homes in 1948, Palestinian women have faced violence, poverty, and the denial of fundamental rights—yet they have remained the guardians of their people’s collective memory and identity.
As teachers, doctors, engineers, sisters, and mothers, they have kept the collective memory alive through their songs, their storytellings, their skills and talents, as well as their everyday resilience. This project celebrates their role in sustaining and enriching Palestinian culture, despite decades of adversity throughout their refugee journeys.
Today, despite UNRWA continuous support to refugee communities with education, healthcare, community development, and microfinance, much more remains to be done to meet the specific needs of women and girls. Ensuring their access to basic services and empowering them remains essential to build a healthier and more productive future for the Palestinian people.