Clothes for victims of fire in Zaatari Refugees Camp

Zaatari camp was first opened in July 2012 and originally built
to accommodate 60,000 refugees. As thousands of new arrivals coming every day,
the camp population has grown exponentially ever since. The camp is currently
housing more than 100,000 people and becoming Jordan’s fifth largest city. As
the populations have swelled, safety and security have degenerated with theft
and fires commonplace.

Almost every day, one or two tents catch fire. The incidents were
often caused by cooking gas cylinder explosion, theft or short circuit. Fires
left some refugees with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

Rana is one of the victims of fire in Zaatari last March which
torched more than 30 tents. She has been living in the refugee camp since January
2013 with her husband and seven children. But the fire that hit Module 1 last
March incinerated her tent and its little belongings inside. “It was happened
around 12 o’clock in the afternoon. The fire spread out very fast until it reached
my tent and burnt down everything. Thank God, no one was hurt because the tents
are so close together”.

To response to this situation, JEN provided emergency
packages of clothes to 90 families in Module 1 who lost their tents and belongings
due to fire. The distribution was implemented by JEN in collaboration with
street leaders and camp communities.

Trisa Lusiandari (Program Officer)