June 21, 2013
Syria
The situation in refugee camps and also in towns close to the Jordan-Syrian border has recently become much worse. This is because the conflict has moved closer to the border zone. Even though the way out of the country has been cut off and the influx of refugees into Jordan stymied, during the previous weeks the refugees have begun arriving again. At this moment around 500 people are crossing the border every day.
Due to military aircraft operating at low altitude and shocks caused by the bombing, many Jordanians have moved to safer zones away from the border area. It is primarily farmers who have been forced to temporarily leave their fields and cattle. They are moving closer to the cities (in this case Al Mafraq), which are already crowded with Syrian refugees.
According to reports from the Jordanian Ministry of Health and international organizations, desperate health conditions are the biggest problem in camps. There is a distinct lack of medical supplies, drugs and vaccines available in the region. Thus there is now a legitimate concern that diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, scabies and diarrhoea will spread at devastating rates. The threat of a cholera epidemic is rising as summer approaches and high temperatures, a lack of safe water and large quantities of waste further amplify the disease. Given the fact that 60% of refugees are women and children, the lack of health care in paediatrics and obstetrics is also becoming a problem. Pregnant women and mothers with new born and small children have limited or no possibility of professional care. For these reasons, Caritas and others are focused on securing health care for families in camps and providing shelter for refugees.
At the moment, Caritas Jordan, supported by other international organisations such as Caritas Czech Republic, is providing help to approximately 114, 000 refugees in six regions. They are primarily taking care of food distribution, material needs, shelter, safe water, health services and education for children.
The workers of Caritas Jordan have undergone psycho-social training focused on working with people in conditions of post-traumatic stress. Psychological support is very important for refugees who have experienced the horrors of war, who have lost their homes, their loved ones, their friends and their future.
There is also a radio station in the refugee camp in Zaatari which is proving to be very helpful. The station broadcasts several hours a day and informs many people about current events taking place in Syria. This is often the only way people in the camp can get any information about what is happening in their homeland.
As already mentioned, more than half of the refugees are women and children. This is why Caritas wants to focus more on the needs of this group, ensuring the possibility of prenatal and postpartum care, new-born care, immunization, hygiene and nutrition in neonates and infants. Caritas Jordan already runs three schools and pre-school facilities for children of Syrian refugees together with charity partners from Germany and the USA.
There are now a thousand volunteers working for Caritas Jordan. These include Syrian refugees themselves, Jordanians, Muslims and Christians. One volunteer is Rahaf, a 20 year old student from Damascus, who told us about her journey to Jordan: “I had gone to university, had had friends. I had been a young person living a normal life. And suddenly everything went wrong. We had nothing. There was only cold, hunger and loneliness.”
Rahaf fled Syria with her family because her father was being threatened by someone over the phone. “They told him that either he leaves or they will kill him,” she describes other unpleasant moments, “we left immediately. We had no time for packing. We were driving down side roads and through fields to avoid military patrols. We crossed the border with Jordan on foot. We arrived at the Zaatari camp and stayed there for 29 days. It was just desert so you cannot do anything there. I counted every day. Afterwards we moved to Zarga town, about an hour from the capital city Amman. We have rented a flat. At first we didn´t know anybody. After we met the neighbours they told us about the Charity centre, which provides assistance to Syrian refugees. I came to the centre and realized that this is my place, a mission that is close to my heart.”
Rahaf, along with others, helps to distribute of food, blankets and medical supplies. The help of charities thus continues in the region.
