Refugees in camps suffer flooding

This winter’s worst storm is hitting Jordan. After a few days of heavy rain and snow, the Zattari camp has become totally different. The rain and snow which had already continued four days turned into cold water, finding lower level and drenching refugees’ tents all over. Some refugees moved around within the camp to avoid being soaked carrying their tents with them and others flocked to new wintering pre-hab housing now under construction, being impatient to wait for moving date, and so the security in the camp has been worsening. A family with children came to JEN’s office in the camp to seek refuge. In response to these situations, the U.N. and organizations around the world had an urgent meeting. Each organization will continue its activities after altering its plan according to the outcome of the meeting. JEN has decided to put off the second distribution of winter clothing to next week. As far as the installation of water sanitation facilities, which is now underway in parallel with the distribution of winter clothing, the sites and number of the installation has been altered, It was while taking remedial measures when JEN got news from the U.N. that they lacked children’s clothing at the refugee-registration office on the border. In order to supply the clothing by this evening, JEN carries out emergency transportation along with the U.N.

Here is a post-flooding footage. http://youtu.be/HBLLzZei5yY

JEN is now in partnership with UNHCR

JEN has been providing emergency relief aid to Syrian refugees since September.
We have been working in cooperation with UN agencies, and at UNHCR’s request JEN has become the governing body in charge of the Clothing Division of the NFI (Non-Food Items) Department in the Division Coordination Meeting.

List of cooperating organizations is here.

JEN is going to start emergency clothing distribution among 30,000 Syrian refugees on January 3. Thank you for your donation.

https://www.jen-npo.org/en/contribute/credit.php?country=s-syr&select1=0#now

hank you for your cooperation in JEN’s emergency aid for Syrian refugees.

JEN is engaged in aid activities for Syrian refugees in Jordan.
PROJECT OUTLINE HERE

There is fear that prolonged life as refugees could cause the deterioration of their health.
Please contribute to help Syrian refugees.

DONATE HERE

Toward improving sanitary conditions; first women-only laundry

According to UNHCR, the number of Syrian refugees fled to neighboring countries or North African nations has exceeded 500,000 (as of December 11). More than 500 refugees are arriving at the Zattari camp each day, the largest refugee camp in Jordan where JEN is operating. Although many organizations including U.N. are being involved in helping refugees, their efforts fall behind the need for various forms of aid to rapidly growing refugees. In particular, the issue of unsanitary water environment is considered to be the top priority by support organizations because it will directly affect the health of children and the aged who are vulnerable to infection.

【Children come to a water tap station to drink water.】

【Desert sand doesn’t absorb water. A water-soaked-drain-less tent】

There is an awful lot of need for measures to improve the unsanitary water environment in the camp. As part of a practical approach to improving the environment, first JEN is going to set up women-only common laundries (30 installations) in the camp.

【A JEN staff member questions a women doing the laundry at a toilet about need for water sanitation.】

At present women do the laundry at hand-washing stations attached to toilets. But they also wash dishes, pots and pans, and food there, because of that it is feared that the laundry wastewater could contaminate water for washing hands, dishes and so forth. Not only that results both from a survey in the camp and information-sharing with other organizations showed that for many women washing and hanging out underclothing in the public is a big source of stress resulting from difference in culture.

【A woman does the laundry before her tent using water from a water station. A familiar sight in the camp】

JEN is going to set up a facility exclusively for laundry in every brick-walled compound of common water point (a common water facility where toilets, showers and water tap stations have been set up). At the same time JEN is going to hand laundry kits (containing detergent, clothespins, clotheslines and so on) to 4,000 families to promote the use of the facility. If women use the facility as a place where they mix freely with each other while doing the laundry, it could also help revitalize their community. Refugees in the camp are facing a number of problems with water supply, drainage, garbage and so on. In order to improve unsanitary water improvement, it’s necessary not only to set up facilities needed urgently, but also to raise personal hygiene awareness. From now, JEN will challenge to respond effectively to the need of improving sanitary environment to aid living conditions of refugees.