Zaatari refugee camp

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Zaatari

| other_name =

| native_name = مخيم الزعتري

| nickname =

| settlement_type = Refugee camp

| motto =

| image_skyline = File:An_Aerial_View_of_the_Za%27atri_Refugee_Camp.jpg

| imagesize = 300px

| image_caption =

| image_flag =

| flag_size = 180px

| image_seal =

| seal_size =

| image_shield =

| shield_size =

| image_map =

| mapsize =

| map_caption =

| pushpin_map = Jordan

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| pushpin_mapsize = 300

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Jordan

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|Jordan}}

| subdivision_type1 = Governorate

| subdivision_name1 = Mafraq Governorate

| subdivision_type2 =

| subdivision_name2 =

| subdivision_type3 =

| subdivision_name3 = |

| government_footnotes =

| government_type =

| leader_title = Camp Manager from SRAD and Head of Sub-Office from UNHCR

| leader_name = The camp is jointly led by UNHCR the UN Refugee Agency and SRAD The Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate

| leader_title1 =

| leader_name1 =

| established_title = Settled

| established_date = July 2012

| established_title2 =

| established_date2 =

| area_magnitude =

| unit_pref = Imperial

| area_footnotes =

| area_total_km2 = 5.2

| area_land_km2 =

| population_as_of = 30 Sep 2024

| population_footnotes =

| population_note = density figure from 2 January 2018 (UNHCR), population figure from stated date

| population_total = 77298

| population_density_km2 = 24212

| population_density_sq_mi =

| population_metro =

| population_density_metro_km2 =

| population_density_metro_sq_mi =

| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities

| population_blank1 =

| population_density_blank1_km2 =

| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =

| timezone = UTC+3

| utc_offset = +2

| timezone_DST = UTC+3

| utc_offset_DST = +3

| coordinates = {{coord|32|17|44.4|N|36|19|25.5|E|region:JO_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| elevation_ft =

| postal_code_type =

| postal_code =

| area_code = +(962)

| blank_name =

| blank_info =

| blank1_name =

| blank1_info =

| website = www.unhcr.org

| footnotes =

}}

The Zaatari refugee camp ({{Langx|ar|مخيم الزعتري}}) is a refugee camp in Jordan, located {{convert|10|km}} east of Mafraq, which has become a permanent settlement;[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/05/world/middleeast/zaatari-refugee-camp-in-jordan-evolves-as-a-do-it-yourself-city.html "Refugee Camp for Syrians in Jordan Evolves as a Do-It-Yourself City"] "Refugee Camp for Syrians in Jordan Evolves as a Do-It-Yourself City"]. by Michael Kimmelman in The New York Times 4 July 2014 It is the world's largest camp for Syrian refugees.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/inside-the-world-s-largest-camp-for-syrian-refugees-1.3018821|website=Irish Times|date=22 March 2017|last=Hayden|first=Sally|access-date=16 December 2018|title=Inside the world's largest camp for Syrian refugees}} It was first opened on 28 July 2012 to host Syrians fleeing the violence in the ongoing Syrian War that erupted in March 2011. It is connected to the road network by a short road which leads to Highway 10.

Early on, the primarily issues were inadequate food supplies and housing.{{cite web|url=http://jordantimes.com/protests-continue-at-zaatari-camp-as-community-leaders-emerge |title=Protests continue at Zaatari camp as community leaders emerge |publisher=The Jordan Times |date=5 November 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://jordantimes.com/police-disperse-rioting-syrians-at-zaatari-camp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105202910/http://jordantimes.com/protests-continue-at-zaatari-camp-as-community-leaders-emerge|archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Police disperse rioting Syrians at Zaatari camp |publisher=The Jordan Times|author=Taylor Luck|date=24 September 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}} In 2013 it was reported that the camp was experiencing growing crime. Demonstrations were or are used as a forum to create awareness of the conflict and to express political views against the current government led by Bashar al-Assad and the violence inflicted by the Syrian Armed Forces.{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refdaily?pass=463ef21123&id=5080e75c5 |title=Refugees Daily |publisher=UNHCR |access-date=1 February 2013}} Due to the maximum capacity of 60,000 refugees in March 2013 a second camp was built 20 kilometres east of Zarqa in the Marjeeb Al Fahood plains.{{cite web|url=http://jordantimes.com/jordan-selects-zarqa-site-for-second-syrian-refugee-camp |title=Jordan selects Zarqa site for second Syrian refugee camp |publisher=Jordan Times |access-date=1 February 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/second-camp-for-syrian-refugees-opens-in-jordan/|title=Second camp for Syrian refugees opens in Jordan|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=20 November 2014}} On 5 April 2014 a riot resulted in a number of injuries to both refugees and Jordanian police. One refugee was killed by gunshot.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26908587|title=Syria crisis: Deadly clash in Jordan's Zaatari camp|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=20 November 2014|date=6 April 2014}}

In 2015, filmmakers Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple lived in Zaatari for a month, resulting in the documentary Salam Neighbor.

Demographics

Accurate counting of the number of refugees in the camp stopped during March 2013 due to the high influx of refugees that skyrocketed that month. The figures during the initial days varied slightly from day to day due to people 'escaping' or leaving the camp back to Syria, and partly due to initial over-counting.{{cite web|url=http://jordantimes.com/syrian-exodus-to-jordan-continues-amid-failed-eid-truce |title=Over 1,000 Syrians cross into Kingdom during Eid holiday |publisher=Jordan Times |access-date=1 February 2013}} Movement out of the camp is restricted, controlled by temporary and limited permits to leave, which does not comply with the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of states.{{cite web|url=http://allegralaboratory.net/when-camps-become-home-legal-implications-of-the-long-term-encampment-in-zaatari/|title=When Camps Become Home: Legal implications of the long-term encampment in Zaatari|website=Allegra lab|access-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504123228/http://allegralaboratory.net:80/when-camps-become-home-legal-implications-of-the-long-term-encampment-in-zaatari/|archive-date=4 May 2015|date=25 February 2015}}

=Population growth=

Since the opening of the refugee camp in July 2012, the camp saw a dramatic increase in its population, that made it the largest population center in Mafraq Governorate within a few months:

On 27 August 2012, the number of refugees in the camp reached 15,000 refugees,{{cite web|url=http://www.alarabalyawm.net/Public_News/NewsDetails.aspx?lang=1&site_id=0&NewsID=19887&Type=P|title=امتلاء مخيم الزعتري باللاجئين السوريين - العرب اليوم|work=العرب اليوم|access-date=20 November 2014}} comprising about 10% of the total number of Syrian refugees in Jordan.
The camp was housing 30,000 Syrian refugees as of 6 September 2012 comprising about 30% of the total Syrian refugees in Jordan.{{cite web|url=http://www.alarabalyawm.net/Public_News/NewsDetails.aspx?lang=1&site_id=0&NewsID=19887&Type=P |script-title=ar:امتلاء مخيم الزعتري باللاجئين السوريين |publisher=Al-Arab Al-Yawm |language=ar |access-date=1 February 2013}}

File:A bakery shop at Al-Zaatari camp.jpg

On 29 November 2012 the number of refugees reached 45,000,{{cite web|url=http://www.alghad.com/index.php/article2/592440/%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AE%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-45-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A6-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A.html|title=جريدة الغد|access-date=20 November 2014}} while the total number of Syrian refugees in Jordan was approximately 230,000.
On 10 January 2013 the total camp population reached 65,000 comprising 22% of the total Syrian refugees in Jordan.
On 5 February 2013 the number of refugees in the camp reached 76,000, while the total number of Syrian refugees in Jordan was more than 345,000.{{cite web|url=http://alghad.com/index.php/article-in-gate/1036/605954/76-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A6-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%AE%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%82.html|title=Alghad Newspaper (Arabic)|access-date=20 November 2014}}
In March 2013, the Syrian security forces started a large-scale security campaign in the southern regions of Syria, resulting in a significant increase in the refugees crossing the borders to Jordan. By 11 March there were more than 156,000 refugees in the camp. These estimates made Zataari possibly the fourth largest city in Jordan at the time.{{cite news|url=http://www.sharnoffsglobalviews.com/jordan-syrian-refugees-162/|title=Syrian Refugees: Time To Do The Right Thing|first1=Ala'|last1=Alrababa'h|first2=Ghazi|last2=Jarrar|publisher=Sharnoff's Global Views |date=18 August 2013|access-date=30 August 2013}}
On 30 April 2014, another refugee camp was opened in Azraq.{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/5360b21b6.html|title=UNHCR - Jordan opens a new desert camp for Syrian refugees at Azraq|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|work=UNHCR|access-date=20 November 2014}} All newly arrived refugees are now taken to Azraq, while the number of refugees in Zaatari had steadily depleted. By September 2014, the number of refugees in Zaatari had fallen to 79,000, according to the latest figures from the UNHCR.{{cite web|url=http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/settlement.php?id=176&country=107®ion=77|title=Syria Regional Refugee Response - Jordan - Mafraq Governorate - Zaatari Refugee Camp|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)|work=UNHCR Syria Regional Refugee Response|access-date=20 November 2014}}
On 26 March 2015, the camp population was estimated at 83,000 refugees. The August 2015 estimate was about 79,900.{{cite web|url=http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/settlement.php?id=176&country=107®ion=77|title=UNHCR data Portal|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)|work=UNHCR Syria Regional Refugee Response|access-date=20 November 2014}}
On 31 October 2018, the population housed about 78,357 refugees, of whom nearly 20% were under five years old. 20% of households were headed by females.{{cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/jordan/unhcr-jordan-factsheet-zaatari-camp-october-2018|access-date=16 Dec 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105123343/https://reliefweb.int/report/jordan/unhcr-jordan-factsheet-zaatari-camp-october-2018|archive-date=5 November 2018|title=UNHCR Jordan Factsheet: Zaatari Camp (October 2018)|website=Reliefweb}}
On 30 September 2024, there was a registered population of 77,298 refugees in the camp.

Energy

The largest solar plant ever built in a refugee camp went live on 13 November 2016, estimated to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions from the camp by 13,000 metric tonnes per year, equivalent to 30,000 barrels of oil and saving US$5.5 million annually. The 12.9 megawatt peak solar photovoltaic plant was funded by the German government, through the KfW Development Bank at a cost of 15 million euros (US$17.5 million). It provides families with between 12 and 14 hours electricity each day - longer than previously.{{cite web|url=https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2017/11/5a0ab9854/jordans-zaatari-camp-green-new-solar-plant.html|access-date=16 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724115529/http://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2017/11/5a0ab9854/jordans-zaatari-camp-green-new-solar-plant.html|archive-date=24 July 2018|title=Jordan's Za'atari camp goes green with new solar plant|last=Hashem|first=Marwa|date=14 November 2017|website=UNHCR}}

Funding, administration and services

File:Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan (2).jpg

File:Assistant Secretary Richard and USAID Assistant Administrator Lindborg Visit the Zaatari Refugee Camp.jpg personnel visit the camp]]

File:Children filling water in Al-Zaatari Camp.jpg

File:Iman Mutlaq visits Zaatari Refugee Camp.jpg visits the Zaatari refugee camp for implementing psychosocial support by the IAHV, Jordan; co-funded by the European Union for the Syrian refugees.]]

As a host country, Jordan is estimated to spend $870 million a year supporting Syrian refugees; if treated as a traditional donor, it would have contributed 5,622% of its fair share.{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfam.org/en/crisis-syria/life-zaatari-refugee-camp-jordans-fourth-biggest-city|title=Life in Za'atari refugee camp, Jordan's fourth biggest city|access-date=16 November 2018|website=Oxfam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819112713/https://www.oxfam.org/en/crisis-syria/life-zaatari-refugee-camp-jordans-fourth-biggest-city|archive-date=19 August 2018}} The camp is under joint administration of the Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate and UNHCR. In March 2013 the UNHCR named Kilian Kleinschmidt Senior Field Coordinator of the camp;{{cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/kilian-kleinschmidt-profile-running-a-syrian-refugee-camp-a-908146.html|title=The Trials of Running a Syrian Refugee Camp|last=Takis Würger|date=28 June 2013|website=www.spiegel.de|language=en|access-date=20 November 2014}} in late 2014, Hovig Etyemezian took over as camp manager.{{cite web|url=https://www.devex.com/news/a-push-for-education-and-livelihoods-for-refugees-in-jordan-88006|title=A push for education and livelihoods for refugees in Jordan|access-date=16 December 2018|last=Mednick|first=Sam|date=26 April 2016}} Other actors include:

Community mobilization:

Intersos is in charge of distributing "stoves for tents, blankets and winter clothes" as a part of the winterization campaign.{{cite web|url=http://intersos.org/en/bulletin/news/our-head-mission-jordan-davide-berruti |title=From Our Head Of Mission In Jordan Davide Berruti |publisher=Intersos.org |date=30 October 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}}
International Relief and Development Inc. (IRD)

Medical:

Arabian Medical Relief
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
International Medical Corps
French military field hospital providing a "surgical unit specialised in treating war injuries"{{cite web|author=AFP |url=http://jordantimes.com/article/syria-refugees-fear-long-stay-as-french-aid-reaches-jordan |title=Syria refugees fear long stay as French aid reaches Jordan |publisher=Jordantimes.com |access-date=1 February 2013}}
Moroccan military field hospital
Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS)
Italian Field Hospital
United Arab Emirates Red Crescent{{cite web|url=http://jordantimes.com/rainwater-floods-tents-in-zaatari-camp |title=Rainwater floods tents in Zaatari camp |publisher=The Jordan Times |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}}
Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO)
Jordan Health Aid Society International (JHASi), Partner with UNHCR
Jordanian Red Crescent
Handicap International
IOM / International Organization for Migration Screening and Health relations with Jordanian Hospitals and Health Ministry for treatment.
IFH Noor Al-Hussein Foundation, Partner with UNHCR, UNFPA
Two clinics operated by UNFPA for primary health care and reproductive health care{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/91/6/13-020613/en/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828074210/http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/91/6/13-020613/en/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 August 2013|title=Syrians flee violence and disrupted health services to Jordan|access-date=20 November 2014}}

WASH (Water/Sanitation/Hygiene) coordination and overall responsibility:

UNICEF

Water and sanitation facilities:

Federal Agency for Technical Relief THW constructed 160 kitchen units and 380 toilets.{{cite web|url=http://www.thw.de/SharedDocs/Meldungen/EN/Einsaetze/international/2012/09/meldung_003_campbewohner_legen_hand_an.html |title=Syria crisis: camp inhabitants contribute to building activities |publisher=Thw.de |date=24 September 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}} The THW was contracted by UNHCR.{{cite web|url=http://www.thw.de/SharedDocs/Meldungen/EN/Einsaetze/international/2012/09/meldung_001_jordanien_westerwelle.html |title=Syria Crisis: Mr Westerwelle visits THW-Team |publisher=Thw.de |access-date=1 February 2013}}
MSB (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency)
MercyCorps
Oxfam{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do/emergency-response/syria-crisis|title=Syria Crisis Appeal - Donate to Syria - Oxfam GB|website=Oxfam GB|access-date=13 March 2018}}

Food:

World Food Programme (WFP)

Hygiene promotion:

ACTED responsibility lies in the field of water treatment, water testing and waste management (liquid and solid).{{cite web|url=http://www.acted.org/en/new-syrian-refugee-arrivals-spark-expanded-acted-intervention |title=New Syrian refugee arrivals spark expanded ACTED intervention |publisher=Acted.org |access-date=1 February 2013}}
JEN (formerly Japan Emergency NGOs)
Oxfam

Education:

UNICEF
SCJ/Save the Children - Jordan "is working to enroll children of Syrian refugees in the Zaatari Refugee Camp in schools" as a part of "the educational outreach programme".{{cite web|url=http://jordantimes.com/save-the-children-seeks-to-enrol-zaatari-children-in-schools |title=Save the Children seeks to enrol Zaatari children in schools |publisher=The Jordan Times |date=2 October 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}}
Mercy Corps - provides non-formal and psychosocial support for children (ages 5–17) in Za'atari camp, with a specific focus on inclusive education programs for children and youth with disabilities.
UNESCO - Youth educational activities, Vocational Training and Higher Education
International Rescue Committee (IRM) is active in assessing the extent of gender based violence.{{cite web|url=http://www.rescue.org/blog/supporting-syrian-refugee-women |title=Supporting Syrian refugee women |publisher=Rescue.org |date=18 October 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}}
International Organization for Migration (IOM){{cite news|last=Farge |first=Emma |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-refugees-idUSBRE86U0QO20120731 |title=Thousands of Syrians trapped in Aleppo: UNHCR |agency=Reuters.com |date= 31 July 2012|access-date=1 February 2013}}
UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)
Norwegian Refugee Council - provides informal education services.
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) - provides peace-building, music and arts workshops, vocational training and psychosocial support to youth aged 14–30 in the "Peace Oasis" in block 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.lutheranworld.org/content/jordan-0|title=Jordan|date=10 June 2013|website=lutheranworld.org|access-date=13 March 2018}}

Women's and children's protection:

International Rescue Committee(IRC) - operates four women's centres and works with UNICEF to care for unaccompanied and separated children.

Others:

World Vision International - implements projects with regard to water drainage and road construction.
International Committee of the Red Cross - traces families and relatives of refugees.{{cite web|url=http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2012/jordan-news-2012-09-26.htm |title=Jordan: ICRC opens tracing office in refugee camp |publisher=Icrc.org |date=26 September 2012 |access-date=1 February 2013}}

By 2016 Zaatari refugee camp was gradually moving away from a model of top-down service provision, as is usual with refugee camps administered by international humanitarian organisations. Instead, under the aegis of the UNHCR, the camp was transforming into a self-provisioning urban conglomeration, where refugees are provided with various forms of cash-based assistance and encouraged to address their own needs.[https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/11/01/zaatari-refugee-camp-resonates-with-canada.html "Zaatari refugee camp resonates with Canada"]. Toronto Star, David Johnston, 1 November 2016

=Mapping=

As at March 2018, Zaatari shelters and other structures had been mapped more than 25 times using satellite imagery by UNOSAT.{{cite web|url=http://www.unitar.org/unosat/maps/SYR|title=Maps: Syria|website=unitar.org|access-date=13 March 2018}} Zaatari is one of the first camps to be mapped in detail through OpenStreetMap.[https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Refugee_Camp_Mapping OpenStreetMap]

References

External links

Khaleefa, Amal. Les Langues au cœur de l’exil. Les Syriens du camp de Zaatari. Prix de thèse. Paris: Presses Sorbonne Nouvelle, 2024.

https://www.afpu-diffusion.fr/ouvrage/les-langues-au-coeur-de-lexil/.

[http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/settlement.php?id=176&country=107®ion=77 UNHCR Data Portal]
[http://www.unitar.org/unosat/node/44/1673 Al-Zaatari Camp Map by UNOSAT], accessed 2012-11-04
[http://zaatari360.martinedstrom.com/ Zaatari reportage] by Martin Edström
[http://www.livedprojects.org/zaatari-refugee-camp/ Lived Zaatari Project]
[http://allegralaboratory.net/when-camps-become-home-legal-implications-of-the-long-term-encampment-in-zaatari/ Legal implications of long-term encampment in Zaatari]

Category:Populated places in Mafraq Governorate

Category:Refugee camps in Jordan

Category:Syrian refugee camps