The camp, which is now home to 600 refugees, would have continued to expand had building efforts not stopped as a result of a disagreement between the Israeli and the Canadian governments.
There is no party tending to the needs of the camp residents, with the exception of sanitation, which was handled by the Silwad Municipality in coordination with the Palestinian National Authority.
However, the municipality suddenly stopped serving the camp, demanding that the residents pay fees for the service.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency refused to recognize the camp officially, using frail excuses, although the residents paid rent."
The letters, dated 21 July 2001 and signed by the housing office in charge of abandoned property, informed the residents that they had 60 days to evacuate their homes.