Who is in charge?

[jegs2]

This isn't a rhetorical question, but it's an actual query concerning the refugee camps in Lebanon. We know they are officially under the jurisdiction of the UN, but who actually is in charge of the various camps? Hamas? Local strongmen? Elected representatives? Who? Unfortunately, this site, proved to be of little value.

[metavac]

Good point. An admittedly quick survey for politics in the Burj el-Barajneh camp on Lexis-Nexis and Google Scholar turned up little as well. I don't know how things are organized in these camps, but my brief look indicates that over the past two decades power and responsibility has divided and flowed between Palestinian political parties, terrorist and militia groups, the Lebanese government and NGOs. There seems to be no system of governance in place to speak of, and that power transfers when an interested parties with the means, cachet and will steps into one of many vacuums.

[Dartzap]

It may be that its technically ran by the Red Cross/Crescent, under the mandate of the UN.

[Coyote]

No proof, but I'd wager a system of elected and appointed local chief/tribal elders, if it is organized around traditional Arab leadership. These then coordinate with whatever regional or NGO authorities are needed to keep power & water running.