Preparing for winter season, 2013

Situated in the desert terrain, Zaatari refugee camp should face an extreme seasonal temperature. During the summer like now, it has faced a fierce heat up to 40 degree Celsius. The hot wind often brings a lot of sand and makes the terrains very white and dusty. While during the winter, the desert camp will encounter its hardest condition. The refugees will live in severe conditions where the rain is heavy and the temperatures are low.

(Unloading winter clothes from the truck)

Last winter of 2012, JEN provided assistance through distributions of winter clothes packages to more than 7,500 families in Zaatari Camp and the border areas. A similar activity will be implemented by JEN for upcoming winter season, 2013. JEN has extended the partnership with UNHCR for distributions of clothes donated by UNIQLO. A total of seven containers of mixed clothes for men, women, and children have been shipped directly from Japan to Aqaba port for the Syrian refugees in the Kingdom of Jordan.

Logistic preparation has been made by JEN to receive the clothes. JEN rent a-800sqm warehouse in the suburb of Amman. Two guards are employed to ensure the security of the premises. A total of 9,000 family bags have been received from UNHCR to be used for the clothes distribution. Today, 20^th August 2013, two containers arrived at JEN warehouse. Ten labors have been employed to unload each 40-foot container.

For the next couple of months, September to October 2013, JEN will sort out estimated 550,000 pieces of clothes based on age and gender. Daily labors will be employed covering day and night shift to sort out and prepare the clothing packages. Each package of winter clothes will be made to suit the needs of each family. JEN will start the clothes distribution to the beneficiaries in October 2013. This advance arrangement is expected to better-prepare the refugees facing a bitterly cold season.

（JEN staff checking packages of UNIQLO clothes at JEN’s warehouse）

Trisa Lusiandari

Programme Officer

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