Photographer displays life in West Bank refugee camp

Mr Wiles became fascinated by the Palestine region and its people after a visit in 2003.

He now lives a hand-to-mouth existence alongside 5,000 refugees in the Aida Camp near Bethlehem, where he helps to run the Lajee children's centre.

The camp – 100 metres (109 yards) by 100 metres – is a maze of alleys, surrounded by a nine metre concrete "apartheid wall".

Mr Wiles is now publicising Behind the Wall: Life, Love and Struggle in Palestine, a book of 26 black and white images and articles written "very much from a Palestinian perspective".

Mr Wiles who will be at the Friends Meeting House in Bean Street, Hull tomorrow and in Quaker Lane, Beverley on Friday, starting at 7pm, said: "People are becoming much more aware of what's happening but I still think there's a long way to go. The watchtowers that surround the camp are full of Israeli soldiers with M16s who regularly shoot into the camp, often at kids. There's been no armed resistance from the camp, so it's not a two-way thing.

"It's only 4km from Jerusalem but it's impossible for any Palestinian to get there because it's the wrong side of the wall. East Jerusalem is officially the capital but no one can get access. People are living without human rights.

"The UN passed a resolution in 1948 to say all the refugees could return to their lands in what is called Israel and people are still sat there waiting for the UN resolution to be enacted."

Green Party spokesman Martin Deane said: "I'm very pleased to welcome Rich back from Palestine to his home city of Hull.

"Over many years now, Rich has been teaching photography to Palestinian refugees in Aida Camp near Bethlehem.

"Rich is one of Hull's unsung heroes. He shows us images and tells us stories of ordinary life for families, and especially the teenagers he works with, that can stop you in your tracks."

Other dates in Yorkshire include York University from 6.30pm to 8pm on March 15, at Hebden Bridge Library from 6.30 to 8.30pm on March 17 and from 4pm to 5.30pm on March 18 at Huddersfield University, along with Huddersfield University Student Friends of Palestine.