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Syria crisis: Zaatari refugee camp manager answers readers’ questions Syria crisis: Zaatari refugee camp manager answers readers’ questions
(5 days later)
Syria’s civil war has forced more than 2.2 million refugees to flee the country since the conflict began. More than a million refugees are children, and Jordan’s Zaatari camp, which sits just across the border from Syria is where 45,000 of them call home.Syria’s civil war has forced more than 2.2 million refugees to flee the country since the conflict began. More than a million refugees are children, and Jordan’s Zaatari camp, which sits just across the border from Syria is where 45,000 of them call home.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that more than a million Syrian children are facing “catastrophic” life in exile, missing out on education, being forced in to work and facing loneliness and discrimination. Children who live in camps and those living in host communities both face the same problems.The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned that more than a million Syrian children are facing “catastrophic” life in exile, missing out on education, being forced in to work and facing loneliness and discrimination. Children who live in camps and those living in host communities both face the same problems.
Zaatari camp manager Kilian Kleinschmidt thinks the Syria’s refugee crisis is best understood through the behaviour of children. He says: ‘‘The moral, traditional and societal values of the community is unravelling. It is losing its bearings. And as the community has become dysfunctional – so have the children.’’Zaatari camp manager Kilian Kleinschmidt thinks the Syria’s refugee crisis is best understood through the behaviour of children. He says: ‘‘The moral, traditional and societal values of the community is unravelling. It is losing its bearings. And as the community has become dysfunctional – so have the children.’’
Kleinschmidt has years of experience working with displaced populations, he was previously Mogadishu, Somalia, and before that he worked in Pakistan. On Tuesday 3 December from 1pm-2pm GMT he will join us for a live Q&A to answer your questions on children and the Syrian refugee crisis.Kleinschmidt has years of experience working with displaced populations, he was previously Mogadishu, Somalia, and before that he worked in Pakistan. On Tuesday 3 December from 1pm-2pm GMT he will join us for a live Q&A to answer your questions on children and the Syrian refugee crisis.
Are we looking at a lost generation? What are Zaatari’s children missing out on? How can traumatised children have space to be children again? Kleinschmidt will also be answering general questions about Zaatari camp, Jordan’s “fifth city’’ with its very own Champs-Elysées shopping area. What would you like to know?Are we looking at a lost generation? What are Zaatari’s children missing out on? How can traumatised children have space to be children again? Kleinschmidt will also be answering general questions about Zaatari camp, Jordan’s “fifth city’’ with its very own Champs-Elysées shopping area. What would you like to know?
To participate, post your question below or recommend your favourite questions from other readers. You can also submit questions on twitter @gdndevelopment. If you have any problems posting, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at development@guardian.co.uk and we’ll add your views to the thread.To participate, post your question below or recommend your favourite questions from other readers. You can also submit questions on twitter @gdndevelopment. If you have any problems posting, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at development@guardian.co.uk and we’ll add your views to the thread.
Q&A highlights:
Dear Kilian
After I wrote about my visit to the camp, a commenter raised some points which I thought you could address. Here is what he wrote:
The Jordanians who run the camp steal a lot of the aid that is meant to help the Syrians. The small stores inside the camp have to pay backhanders in order to get their goods inside, which pushes prices up. If a Syrian family want to leave the camp they have to pay to do so, somewhere in the region of 30-40 JOD per person which is a huge amount when you consider that most of the refugees are lucky if they have more than a 1 JOD to live on.
I spoke to one Syrian man in the camp and he told me that he is given baby milk powder by aid agencies but he has to sell it in order to have enough money to buy bread for the rest of his family. They simply don't receive enough food to live on.
Hi Mark. The issue of individuals trying to abuse the system has been effectively addressed in the last two weeks by us providing assistance only to those we have physically found present in the camp during a house to house survey we conducted two weeks ago. This has effectively put a stop to those who were collecting rations on cards left behind by those who left the camp illegally.
As far as assistance is concerned, all the basic food, water, health standards have been met, so nobody should have to sell items in order to survive. That said, people will sell things because the humanitarian assistance they receive doesn't cover everything. This is why we are trying to change the system and move towards vouchers and cash transfers.
Here’s a few similar questions from Facebook so posting them together:
Hugo Boogaerdt asked:
What does the Zaatari management do to help these refugees to work in their temporary home? I.e. give them back some dignity by having a job, instead of just waiting all day until they can return to Syria.
Gal Idan added:
How do people keep up the morale in a Refugee camp?
Hugo – we estimate, based on a recent survey, that some 60% of the Syrian refugees in the camp already have an additional income. This is either originating from the INCREDIBLE energy and business acumen we see throughout the camp, with over 2,000 businesses established, or it's from people working here, employed by the various humanitarian agencies for service provision, skilled jobs (like teaching, medical jobs), etc.
Per month, some 8 million JD or 12 million USD changes hands here in Za'atari.
@GdnDevelopment #syriancrises How do Syrian refugees gain access to polio vaccinations when living outside Za'atari (Com of 500 Nr Mafraq)
They should head to the nearest health centre or ring up the UNHCR help line. A national campaign for polio vaccinations has just finished inside the camp and is still happening outside the camp. 45,000 people in the camp vaccinated!
Hello all
Having just visited Zaata'ri refugee camp for myself, (not affiliated with any organisation or group or NGO) i was shocked to find that it was like a mini city, despite being the Eid Al-Adha holidays, there were so many peolple busying about thier everyday lives, "just getting on with it." as best as they could. There were, from what i could make out schools and kiosks. However, inside the tensts was a different story :( heartbreaking. I want to go back and spend more time with the families and distribution centres. My question relates to mafia gangs which i hear operate within the camp. What happens to the leaders, are they ever caught and what type of justice do they face when caught. After all, it boils down to survival. Also what of those who DONT live in the camp, have you managed to talk to those who have moved out for whatever reason?
M
Hi skizzle80, we'll take your question next. Interesting one.
Yes, people have an incredible sense for business and have developed so many activities for themselves -- and this is what we need to support. It means people get back their dignity. As regards individuals involved in illegal activities, and are abusing the system or even extorting from the community, these people are increasingly isolated and are more and more being brought to justice. This is happening through outreach from us and partners to the community, who are increasingly understanding the importance and positives effects of establishing structures and rules. People want to go about their normal lives. We're trying to support this.
@gdndevelopment what kind of local democracy operates in the camp to empower its residents?
Hi James. While of course the initial setting up of the camp didn't allow for formal structures to be set up, today we have a wide range of informal and formal consultative processes underway. There are committees and focus groups, and I and colleagues have plenty of face to face contact, on a daily basis, with people throughout the camp.
We are building on personal relationships and instituting things where necessary. We have decentralized administration and are rolling out a more streamlined approach to 12 districts. We're also working hard to ensure teamwork between Jordanian authorities, the humanitarian community and the refugees themselves.
What are your recommendations for people (like me) who want to work in the humanitarian aid world?
Phew. Big question. I'd say you should get as many languages as you can and prepare yourself for tough work. As good as it feels to do this kind of work, and it can feel great, it also takes a toll on you. This is something that came through in A Day in the Life: Za'atari episode 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReSka5KwmMY.
@GdnDevelopment The @ZaatariCamp is indeed a city. Why doesn't it as such try to include essential urban planning principles?
We just had the second visit of a multifunctional team from the Netherlands, including urban planners, heads of service delivery departments and so on. They are helping us come up with an integrated new masterplan for Za'atari, but also cooperating with the city of Mafraq, where lots of refugees are living. We are drawing from best practices in urban planning + development and intending to build up a global partnership network to further our efforts.
Just received another question via email, Axel Wennhall asks:
I've just read Jonathan Wilson's piece on how football can play a part. But is there something I as a private person or as a part of a company/organization could do? Would football replicas be of interest or bring some joy for the kids playing football in the refugee camp?
We have two people form UEFA working with us now, in cooperation with Prince Ali's Asian Football Development Association, and on 9-11 December we're running a tournament for 12-15 year olds. It's five a side and it's the beginning of a Za'atari league. I may even play for the staff team!
Football is important here – you can see why in this little video from the children's report: http://rfg.ee/rgxzy.
As a private person who wants to help, you are best to support an organisation or even get your own local football club to partner up with a Jordanian or Syrian refugee club. We've got nearly global collaboration on this, and direct partnerships between local clubs and clubs here are welcome. We'd love that kind of support.
What is the most effective form of psychosocial rehabilitation in adolescent refugees who have witnessed traumatic events?
And does the installation of sports facilities make a noticeable difference to the conduct and mental health of young refugees in the camp?
From what I have seen, individual counselling is the most effective thing. A one to one, child by child approach. It takes funding but it is what helps children and youth the most.
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