Basic definitions:

The definitions of LIPRIS are based on the international standards issued by the United Nations with minor modifications to suit local conditions for refugees in Syria.

Camp: It is a piece of land given to UNRWA from the host government for building housing units for Palestinians refugees and taking care of them in these camps. UNRWA offers health and education services and provides garbage collection and sewage services. GAPAR considers Al-Yarmouk gathering as a refugee camp whereas UNRWA does not consider it a camp. Although UNRWA offers education, health, and social services in al-Yarmouk, it is not responsible for the sewage system and the garbage collection. This is handled by the Syrian Government.

Gathering: It is a place of residence for Palestinians outside the refugee camps and includes 25 households or more living near each other, in the same neighborhood. UNRWA does not serve the smallest gatherings.

Palestinian household: An individual or more who live together and share food and drink and living conditions with or without any relationship among them, but there must be at least one Palestinian. 

Refugees since 1948: A person whose place of residence was Mandatory Palestine (1948), who held Palestinian Nationality at that time, and who left Palestine as a result of the Arab-Israeli war in 1948, whether during the war or after, that is to say that he was expelled to neighbouring or non-neighbouring countries, or any child who was born from a refugee father.

Displaced: A displaced person is the person whose usual place of residence before the 1967 war was the West Bank or Gaza Strip, and left it as a result of that war, whether he was forced to leave during the war or after it, and also displaced person is considered as every person whose place of residence was not the West Bank or Gaza Strip at the war time, but was prevented to return because of war. In addition all descendants and children are considered as displaced.

Refugees since 1948 and displaced: They are the Palestinian refugees who migrated from Palestine because of the Arab-Israeli Conflict in 1948, and resided in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, then were displaced from the West Bank or Gaza Strip as a result of the 1967 war.

From the West Bank or Gaza Strip: They are Palestinians persons who came to Syria from the West Bank or Gaza Strip not by force, but in a usual way in order to live in Syria. 

Nuclear Family:  Is the family composed of husband, wife with or without children, or one of the pair with children, or brothers and sisters. That means that the family members have a relationship of the first degree.

Extended Family: Is the family which has more than one nuclear family and live together sharing eating, drinking and living conditions.

Barraks: It is one room built of wood and tin or from block with zink roof or any material other than cement.

Barrakia: It is an old shelter for soldiers with block walls and zink roof, and divided in to small units of residence, as it is found in Neirab Camp in Aleppo and Jalil Camp in Lebanon.

Survey Questionnaires: The PCBS has discussed the designed questionnaire prepared by Fafo and adjusted it as to include three main questionnaires as follows:

1. Household questionnaire: Collects data about housing conditions and the living area of the family as well as information about each family member, such as age, sex, refugee status, marital status, educational achievements and employment. Respondent is the household head or other responsible adult.

2. Mother and child questionnaire: Used to interview all married, divorced and widowed women whose age is 15-54 years old. This questionnaire collects data on the birth history of women and about contraceptive use. It also asks about the health status of children less than five years of age, including their vaccination regime, and enquires about breast-feeding practices.

3. Random selected individual questionnaire: Used on randomly selected family members aged 15 years and over, this questionnaire includes questions about migration, work conditions, on-the-job training, individual health, as well as questions tapping the opinions of the individual on the education of their children and their thoughts about such issues as women’s liberation and family planning.  

Geographical division:

A - Geographical regions used in this report are:

A - 1- Damascus Urban: It includes Yarmouk Camp, Dumar Balad, Mazzeh, Qaboon, Al-Lawan, Barzeh Balad, Hai Amine and Tadamon gatherings.

A - 2 - Damascus Rural: It includes Jaramana, Sbeina, Khan Shih, Khan Danoon, Sit Zeinab and Ramadan Camp and douma Gatherings.

A - 3 - North: It includes Neirab and Handarat samps in addition to Sikeh gathering which is neighboring Nairab Camp and City Gathering Aleppo.

A - 4 - West: It includes Aideen Camp in Homs in addition of Tariq Sham Gathering in Homs, Hama Camp in Hama, the gathering which is near Hama Camp and Ramel Camp in Lattakia.

A - 5 - South: It includes Dar’a Camp, Mouzerib, Sahem Golan, Tel Shihab, Jillin and Tabariat gatherings.

B - Division into Urban and Rural:

B - 1 - Urban camps and gatherings: It includes Yarmouk Camp, Dumar Balad, Mazzeh, Qaboon, Al-Lawan, Barzeh Balad, Hai Amine and Tadamon gatherings, in addition to the camps and gatherings in Homs, Hama, Lattakia, city Gathering Aleppo and Dar’a Camp.

B - 2 – Rural camps and gatherings: It includes Jaramana, Sbeina, Khan Shih, Khan Dannon, Sit Zeinab and Ramadan Neirab and Handarat Camps in addition to Houseinieh, Jobar, Douma, sikeh and Dara Gatherings.