Snow Storm Huda in Za’atari Camp(2)

When the sun came up the next day the water and 10-12 cm of heavy snow covered the ground. The trucks removed water as quickly as they could but the snow started melting faster than the trucks could work. More rain and snow fell. Other organizations brought in special trucks to clear out the septic tanks. Again the JEN team worked late into the night to stabilize the water levels.

[Dewatering is a muddy job !]

The third day was also exceedingly long and cold. Another organization brought in additional trucks to support with de-watering. The JEN team persevered and by the time the left late at night they felt that they had made significant improvements – about 60% of the water had been removed and pumped outside the camp. That night temperatures dropped well below freezing. All the roads in the country were closed because they were covered in ice.

As the sun rose on the 4th morning the calls started again and our exhausted JEN team bundled up and went back out to keep working. Throughout the day the situation came more and more under control. We were able to reduce the number of trucks working and reduced the response to daylight hours. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until almost a week later that all water was removed and the normal routines in the camp could return to normal.

After all was said and done, Huda caused a lot more trouble in the north of Jordan than in Amman. People who had lived in the area their entire life said they had never seen anything like it. JEN’s emergency team rose to the challenge; braving extreme cold, and really wet conditions.

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Snow Storm Huda in Za’atari Camp(1)

Early in January 2015 forecasters predicted a snow storm. It looked serious enough to name so they called it Huda. Less snow was expected in Amman than in 2013, but the government declared a public holiday the day before anyway.

JEN holds the responsibility for storm-dewatering in the camp. This means that when it rains we call in trucks with large tanks and hoses and vacuum pumps and suck up the water. So while many of the staff delighted at the unexpected holiday those who live closest to camp as well as the JEN maintenance team members gathered to go over the emergency plan for responding to the storm. They divided in to two shifts of 5 people each, so that we could maintain operations over night if needed. We reviewed the maps of where water accumulated last time. We established how we would communicate during the operations.

The morning of the storm brought a lot of strong wind. The emergency team spent most of the day tying down water tanks that we had thought were too heavy to blow away, we had been wrong the wind was strong enough to take them. The protective tarp and part of the roof blew off of one of the caravan that we work from. Around mid-day the rain started. Light initially, but growing increasingly heavy. The emergency team leader, Rami, called in the de-watering trucks. Three at first, then three more, then a few hours later he called four more.

Temperatures fell, the rain turned to snow. The second shift had to join the first because there was too much for them to handle alone. My phone rang and buzzed non-stop with urgent requests for a truck to help. Even some of the caravans were taking on water. Streets were flooded so that emergency vehicles couldn’t get through. The storm water flowed into septic tanks causing them to overflow. One of the schools was flooded endangering their supply of text books. Tents were collapsing under the weight of the snow. We arranged to have 12 trucks the next day.

(To be continued)

[Tents collapsed under the snow]

[A break in the storm in Zaatari Camp]

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Dewatering in Za’atari Camp

During the week of 25 November 2014, there was a heavy rain fall in Za’atari Camp. Due to the poor water absorption of the soil in Za’atari, rain brings much hardship to the Syrian refugees living in Za’atari, with the rain water flooding houses and roads.

The situation has improved dramatically since the previous year, since many more people have moved into caravans that are raised slightly from the ground, protecting them from rain entering into their houses. In addition, with the help of the UN and other agencies, camp has more paved roads that are protected from flooding, allowing movements during rain a lot easier. There has been a basic storm water drainage system installed as well as a number of culverts that facilitate the water to drain towards the outskirts of the camp, rather than stagnating in the middle of the districts.

However, there were still some areas that are prone to flooding, especially in the old southwest part of the camp, where the drainage systems do not work as well because of the challenges in site planning, and also with the fact that the dirt ground is not suitable for absorbing rain as well as graveled ground seen in other parts of the camp. In some bad cases, the road in front of caravans flooded so much that children could not pass to get to school. In addition, the rain water, combined with the stagnant grey water, had created deep puddles in one of the schools, creating a serious hygiene risk.

[School ground flooded with rain water]

[Classroom flooded with rain water]

To respond to such challenges, JEN formed a group of emergency responders who are responsible for managing the dewatering trucks to remove the water from flooded areas, and to work with the Syrian communities to identify problematic areas. During the rainy week, the staff worked in the camp after working hours to monitor and direct the dewatering trucks, as well as to work with refugees to address other related issues such as the risk of electric shocks where electric lines were submerged into water. Some days, JEN staff worked until 2 or 3 in the morning in the rain to handle the emergency situation as much as possible.

[Dewatering team preparing for the night’s work]

In the school that was flooded, there was a risk that children will not be able to attend school the next day because of the hygiene risks. JEN staff directed 3-5 trucks to remove the water as quickly possible in order to prepare a suitable condition to continue the school work. Because of JEN’s tireless work, children and teachers were able to access the schools the next day without major issues and many families were able to stay safe and comfortable in their homes during the rain.

[Dewatering crew removing the rain water]

[One day of rain can flood the camp streets]

In a refugee camp, small changes like rain create major issues for people who are residing there. To continue providing a safe and comfortable living environment for Syrian refugees living in Jordan, JEN will continue to implement projects in Za’atari Camp and in host communities through 2015.

Thanks for those who sponsored and supported JEN’s projects in Jordan in 2014. JEN’s team looks forward to spreading more information about JEN’s work this year!

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Nation-wide school assessment in Jordan

Sponsored by  our supporters and UNICEF, JEN’s host community project launched a large scale assessment of all 3,545 public schools in Jordan.

[Training Session in JEN’s office]

Although JEN has already assessed more than 700 schools two years ago, there is still a necessity to conduct an assessment for the remaining schools in Jordan in order to identify priority intervention for those schools in addition to create and share a database with the Ministry of Education and Implementing Partners interested to work in those public schools.

The questionnaire of the assessment is very comprehensive and it covers various aspects of the schools environment including General information, Latrine facilities, Water system, Water quality, Water disposal and sewage system, and Hygiene and health practices promotion,

[Checking GPS devices in a school campus]

A total of 17 data collectors from nearly all governorates of Jordan have been participating in the assessment since it started in December 2014. Weekly meetings are being organized in JEN’s premises between data collectors and their supervisors in order to discuss and tackle issues that might come up while conducting the assessment in the schools. These weekly meetings are also important to the newly recruited data collectors in terms of sharing information and expertise which would eventually enhance their skills and knowledge in conducting similar surveys.

[Explaining how to duly fill a questionnaire in a school]

 

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Grey water garden

In our general life, we do not recognize the importance of sewage line. But can you imagine your life, that have no way to throw the used water such as laundry, cooking and from latrine?
The biggest refugee camp in Jordan, Za-Atari camp is currently accommodating more than 80,000 refugees which are around 20,000 households. But unfortunately, there is no sewage line to collect the waste water discharged from shelters. .

[Grey water flowing from a caravan]

This water flows from high to low places  and becomes stagnant water. As you can easily imagine,this stagnant water will negatively affect the environment of the community and will definitely have hygienic and bad smell implications. Also, rainy season has started from November 2014 which  will also increase the water level.

[Stagnant Water]
Considering this situation, JEN with other agencies have started a project for planting Eucalyptus to utilize this wasted water.
JEN will promote the project to the community and those households flowing water from their shelter, and suggest this solution and benefit for this. Refugees who have interest dig a hole by themselves, and agencies with expert will come with pipes to install and plants to plant. Involving the refugees to be participant of the installment process is effective to ensure ownership.
Currently, the project is focusing in the areas where the amount of flux  water is higher than other areas. Interestingly, some refugees who did not have any interest at the beginning of the project have showed an interest later on and started to dig their own pipes as well.Now this planting project is getting as a fashion in this community.

[Digging a hole for sowing plants]

[Installing pipes and rocks below the plant]

[A child carries  saplings to plant]

There are many communities that are carrying the similar problem in the camp, and raining season will continue until January 2015. But on the other hand, there is positive cycle that refugees start to participate by affection from their neighbors. To improve the circumstances of refugees in the camp, JEN will keep continuing the support as much as possible.

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○Postal transfer account No: 00170-2-538657
Account holder: JEN
Please write “Tohoku Earthquake” on the liaison column.

○Credit card: http://bit.ly/c7R8iA
Please select “Tohoku Earthquake” from the pull-down. For any inquiries regarding bank transfers, please contact Tomita or Asakawa in JEN Tokyo Office at 03-5225-9352