Makeshift village accommodates 80,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan
AMMAN:
A makeshift Kuwaiti-funded village in Jordan, bearing the name of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah, has become a safe haven and home to some 80,000 Syrian refugees fleeing chaos in their country.
The International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) inaugurated the wellequipped camp in October 2013 at the peak of the Syrian humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people, many bare-footed and penniless, benefiting from the services offered by the village.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Village was set up at the refugee Al-Zaatari camp to secure dwelling, health, schooling, and other necessities for the refugees. The Kuwaiti-financed village has drawn much admiration from international quarters and personalities with some dubbing it as one of the most successful experiences in the humanitarian field.
Construction of the village, run by the Jordanian Government in coordination with international agencies, cost some $5 million. It was His Highness the Amir who had earmarked the sum to secure home-made houses and other necessary facilities for the village. It includes a mosque, two schools, toilets, and a medical center.
Last year, the IICO expanded the site to include more residential units with more facilities. Some of the units are lighted with solar energy. Hovik Atmesian, a coordinator of the United Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said the Kuwaiti-financed village provides the best services and safest surrounding, as compared to shanty towns in other places and countries.
Robert Jinks, representative of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), lauded the Kuwaiti initiative of building the camp, noting that the available school and medical center greatly helped the organization in its mission.
Colonel Abdulrahman Al-Omoush, former manager of Al-Zaatari camp, said the State of Kuwait is among the leading countries that have been securing aid for the refugees, particularly those living in the 15-sq-km makeshift village. The medical services are particularly vital considering the fact that birth rates at the camp amount to 5-8 per day. More than 1,000 students attend classes at the camp school.
Moreover, Kuwait contributes with $18 million in the international funds allocated for securing food for residents of the camp. It has also covered some of the expenses for drilling water wells.
It also funds other regular activities and courses for teaching crafts. Jordan hosts some 1.4 million Syrian refugees. —