Syrian Refugees in Jordan: The Limits of Assistance

Nearly half a million Syrians are now refugees in Jordan, making up a third of the 1.5 million people who have fled the conflict in Syria to neighbouring countries. More than 100,000 of them live in Zaatari camp, situated in the north of the country, less than 20 km from the Syrian border. Up until last month, one thousand refugees arrived daily at the camp, which has become the largest camp for Syrian refugees in the region.  “Thus far, the Jordanian government has made significant efforts to host refugees,” explained Antoine Foucher, Head of Mission for MSF in Jordan. “But the pressure caused by the massive influx of refugees has resulted in an increasingly difficult situation.” Tensions are a constant factor inside the camp, which has far exceeded its full capacity. They also affect the Jordanian community, which has become strained by the influx of refugees, particularly in the northern province, where the population has doubled in just a few months. “There is no existing sustainable solution for hosting refugees, mainly due to a lack of long-term financial support.” Jordan 2013 © Enass Abu Khalaf-Tuffaha/MSFZaatari Camp, close to the Syrian border, where over 100,000 Syria refugees reside. In the Zaatari camp, the plight of the refugees remains extremely precarious. In late March, MSF opened a pediatric hospital, the only hospital facility open to children aged 1 month to 10 years. The team also increased its staff and expanded its activities to deal with...
Source: MSF News - Category: Global & Universal Tags: Syria Jordan Frontpage Refugees & IDPs NEWS Source Type: news