Balata Refugee Camp

Balata was established in 1950 by the UN as temporary housing for refugees from the Jaffa area (where I stayed my first two nights in Israel). 35,000 people are packed within a 2 kilometer radius. The camp began as rows of tents that eventually (over 59 years) turned into one story buildings and with sunsequent generations has expanded vertically. Because the community began as just rows of tents, there are very few streets and these tiny alley ways are the only way to move throughout the camp. In the distance you can see the group of kids playing soccer in this alley, these are the only spaces kids have to play.
The kids from the previous photo ran over to me and wanted to practice their english.

Right outside the camp's borders.