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As vast Za’atari refugee camp turns 10, Syrians face uncertain future – Global Issues

“With the increase in food prices worldwide, many refugee families are struggle to meet their basic needs on a daily basis“Dominik Bartsch said, UNHCR Representative in Amman. “There is food assistance, of course, but overall, household incomes are falling rapidly and we see increasing levels of poverty in the camp.”

Debt piled up

According to UNHCR, two-thirds of refugee families in Za’atari say they are in debt, and 92 of them say they resort to negative coping strategies, such as reducing food intake or accepting high-risk jobs. These numbers are growing at a worrying rate.

And then UN-led constitutional negotiations Mr. Bartsch said: “With Syria’s warring parties postponed at the beginning of the week, a geopolitical damage caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, humanitarians are still particularly concerned for the Syrian children raised in Za.” atari, where the camp “became their world”. .

The prospects for a return for the time being do not look promising. We do not see an environment in Syria conducive to profitbut it can be reassured nonetheless that when the refugees were asked if they would consider returning home, they responded very positively.”

Unsustainable pressure

Mr. Bartsch noted that more than 20,000 births have been recorded in the Za’atari camp since opening, before pointing to “limited opportunities for many children to be born in camps and found no other environment than the camp itself”.

In recognition of the camp’s merits for “saving thousands of lives, providing jobs and opportunities “For Jordanians and Syrians as well as Syrians,” the UN refugee agency official warned that the situation was unsustainable.with weather-resistant temporary shelters increasingly showing their limitations.

“The caravans replaced the tents in 2013, which have a normal lifespan of six to eight years, meaning most of them are now in urgent need of repair… In 2021 alone, more than 7,000 refugees have requested assistance. maintenance assistance because of cracked roofs and windows and walls, he explained.

Electricity is another area of ​​concern. While a solar power plant was opened to power the campsite in 2017, its capacity can only meet the needs of all residents for 11.5 hours a day.

In recent months, as electricity demand increases in the summer, UNHCR has had to reduce this to 9 hours per day to be able to cope with the extra electricity costs, as the solar plant does not provide for all camp needs.

An aerial view of the Zaíatri refugee camp near Mafraq, Jordan, which houses tens of thousands of Syrians displaced by the conflict.  December 7, 2012.

UN photo / Mark Garten

An aerial view of the Zaíatri refugee camp near Mafraq, Jordan, which houses tens of thousands of Syrians displaced by the conflict. December 7, 2012.

Traditional welcome

Jordan welcomes 675,000 registered refugees from Syria, who began to flee in 2011 when civil war broke out, causing terrible suffering, death, and economic devastation. Most of the Syrian refugees in Jordan live in towns and villages among local communities. Only 17% live in the two main refugee camps, Za’atari and Azraq.

“It’s proof, proof of the generosity of the Jordanian Government that 10 years ago, 11 years ago, allowed Syrian refugees to access its territory and then set up food facilities. remarkable by global standards,” said Bartsch of Za’atari via video link from Amman to journalists in Geneva.

Humanitarian assistance to refugees in the camp is spearheaded by the Jordanian government and UNHCR, which has nearly 1,200 staff members from 32 different international and Jordanian organizations working here.

Entrepreneurship philosophy

This humanitarian assistance would not be possible without the support of the international community,” said Mr. Bartsch, highlighting the determination and resilience of camp residents who have seen nearly 1,800 stores and businesses start from scratch.

“From mobile phone shops to restaurants, bridal shops to mechanics, these businesses are estimated to employ around 3,600 refugees,” the UNHCR official continued. “But they don’t operate in isolation.

Refugee entrepreneurs regularly engage with companies and clients in the nearby city of Mafraq and contribute to the Jordanian economy and host society. “

Za’atari has 32 schools, 58 community centers and eight health facilities operating in conjunction with the civil defense and community police.

In addition to co-managing the camp with the authorities, UNHCR and its partners provide protection, health and cash support to the women, men and children in the camp.

“Over the long term, our prediction is that an approach that continues to gradually bring refugees into national assistance is the path to follow,” Mr. Bartsch said, praising Jordan for his work. has allowed refugees to access education and healthcare “from a very early age”. and the labor market.

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