Zaatari refugee camp

Zaatari
مخيم الزعتري
Refugee camp
Zaatari

Location in Jordan

Coordinates: 32°17′44.4″N 36°19′25.5″E / 32.295667°N 36.323750°E / 32.295667; 36.323750Coordinates: 32°17′44.4″N 36°19′25.5″E / 32.295667°N 36.323750°E / 32.295667; 36.323750
Country  Jordan
Governorate Mafraq Governorate
Settled 2012
Government
 • Camp Manager Hovig Etyemezian
Area
 • Total 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
Population (2015)
 • Total 79,900
 • Density 62,710/sq mi (24,212/km2)
  figures from August 23, 2015 (est.)
Time zone UTC+2 (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (UTC+3)
Area code(s) +(962)2

Zaatari (Arabic: مخيم الزعتري) is a refugee camp in Jordan, located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Mafraq which is gradually evolving into a permanent settlement.[1] It was first opened on July 28, 2012 to host Syrians fleeing the violence in the ongoing Syrian civil war that erupted in 2011. On March 26, 2015, the camp population was estimated at 83,000 refugees.[2]

It is connected to the road network by a short road which leads to the highway 10.

The camp features market-like structures along the main street where goods like vegetables, basic household equipment and clothes can be purchased. There are also coffee shops where shisha can be smoked.

Since the opening of the camp in July 2012, the camp population has repeatedly demonstrated. The main concern has related to the lack of sufficient food supplies and better accommodation.[3][4] The camp has seen an increasing number of reports of crime, including prostitution and drug-dealing.[5] Furthermore, demonstrations are used as a forum to create awareness of the conflict and to express political views against the current government led by Bashar al-Assad and the violence inflicted by the Syrian Armed Forces.[6] Further the protesters declared support for the Free Syrian Army.

Due to the maximum capacity of 60,000 refugees in March 2013 a second camp was built 20 kilometres east of Zarqa in the Marjeeb Al Fahood plains.[5][7] On 5 April 2014 a riot resulted in a number of injuries to both refugees and Jordanian police. One refugee was killed by gunshot.[8]

In 2015, filmmakers Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple lived in Zaatari for a month, resulting in the documentary Salam Neighbor.

Demographics

Accurate counting of the number of refugees in the camp stopped during March 2013 due to the high influx of refugees that skyrocketed that month. Current estimates put the number of refugees residing in the camp at about 79,900 (August 23, 2015 estimate).[2]

Population growth

Since the opening of the refugee camp in July 2012, the camp saw a dramatic increase in its population, that made it the largest population center in Mafraq Governorate within a few months:

A bakery shop made by the residents of Al-Za'tari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Many Syrian refugees have started their businesses in the camp for living, which created a popular market in the camp. (By/ Mustafa Bader)

The figures during the initial days varied slightly from day to day due to people 'escaping' or leaving the camp back to Syria, and partly due to initial over counting [16] Movement out of the camp remains restricted leaving many to label it a prison or detainment camp and going against core humanitarian principles. Most of the refugees are from the Governorates of southern Syria, Damascus and Homs.

Services

Zaatari refugee camp
USAid personnel visit the camp
Syrian Children filling drinking water in bottles at Al-Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan. (By/ Mustafa Bader)

UNHCR remains responsible for the refugees and the camp is managed by the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization / JHCO. In March 2013 the UNHCR called the German Mr Kilian Kleinschmidt to be the "Senior Field Coordinator" of the camp.[17] Other actors include:

Community mobilization:

Medical:

WASH (Water/Sanitation/Hygiene) coordination and overall responsibility:

Water and sanitation facilities:

Food:

Hygiene Promotion:

Education:

Women's and Children's Protection:

Others

The Zaatari refugee camp is gradually moving away from a model of top-down service provision, as is usual with refugee camps administered by international humanitarian organisations. Instead, under the aegis of the UNHCR, the camp is gradually transforming into a self-provisioning urban conglomeration, where refugees are provided with various forms of cash-based assistance and encouraged to address their own needs.[30][1]

Mapping

Since 2012 Zaatari shelters and other structures have been mapped more than 25 times using satellite imagery by UNOSAT.[31] Zaatari is one of the first camps to be mapped in detail through OpenStreetMap.[32]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Refugee Camp for Syrians in Jordan Evolves as a Do-It-Yourself City" "Refugee Camp for Syrians in Jordan Evolves as a Do-It-Yourself City"]. by Michael Kimmelman in The New York Times July 4, 2014
  2. 1 2 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "UNHCR data Portal". UNHCR Syria Regional Refugee Response. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Protests continue at Zaatari camp as community leaders emerge". The Jordan Times. 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  4. ↑ "Police disperse rioting Syrians at Zaatari camp". The Jordan Times. 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  5. 1 2 "Jordan selects Zarqa site for second Syrian refugee camp". Jordan Times. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  6. ↑ "Refugees Daily". UNHCR. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  7. ↑ "Second camp for Syrian refugees opens in Jordan". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Syria crisis: Deadly clash in Jordan's Zaatari camp". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "امتلاء مخيم الزعتري باللاجئين السوريين - العرب اليوم". العرب اليوم. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  10. ↑ امتلاء مخيم الزعتري باللاجئين السوريين (in Arabic). Al-Arab Al-Yawm. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  11. ↑ "جريدة الغد". Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Alghad Newspaper (Arabic)". Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Alrababa'h, Ala'; Jarrar, Ghazi (August 18, 2013). "Syrian Refugees: Time To Do The Right Thing". Sharnoff's Global Views. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  14. ↑ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "UNHCR - Jordan opens a new desert camp for Syrian refugees at Azraq". UNHCR. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  15. ↑ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "Syria Regional Refugee Response - Jordan - Mafraq Governorate - Zaatari Refugee Camp". UNHCR Syria Regional Refugee Response. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Over 1,000 Syrians cross into Kingdom during Eid holiday". Jordan Times. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  17. ↑ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany (28 June 2013). "Kilian Kleinschmidt Profile: Running a Syrian Refugee Camp". SPIEGEL ONLINE. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  18. ↑ "From Our Head Of Mission In Jordan Davide Berruti". Intersos.org. 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  19. ↑ AFP. "Syria refugees fear long stay as French aid reaches Jordan". Jordantimes.com. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  20. 1 2 "Rainwater floods tents in Zaatari camp". The Jordan Times. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  21. ↑ "Syrians flee violence and disrupted health services to Jordan". Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "Syria crisis: camp inhabitants contribute to building activities". Thw.de. 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  23. ↑ "Syria Crisis: Mr Westerwelle visits THW-Team". Thw.de. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  24. 1 2 http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do/emergency-response/syria-crisis
  25. ↑ "New Syrian refugee arrivals spark expanded ACTED intervention". Acted.org. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  26. ↑ "Save the Children seeks to enrol Zaatari children in schools". The Jordan Times. 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  27. ↑ "Supporting Syrian refugee women". Rescue.org. 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  28. ↑ Farge, Emma. "Thousands of Syrians trapped in Aleppo: UNHCR". Reuters.com. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  29. ↑ "Jordan: ICRC opens tracing office in refugee camp". Icrc.org. 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  30. ↑ "Zaatari refugee camp resonates with Canada". Toronto Star, David Johnston, Nov. 1, 2016
  31. ↑ UNOSAT
  32. ↑ OpenStreetMap
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