JORDAN: Aid agencies open two supermarkets in the Zaatari refugee camp bringing a touch of normality to the camp's Syrian residents

Record ID: 241719

  • Title: JORDAN: Aid agencies open two supermarkets in the Zaatari refugee camp bringing a touch of normality to the camp's Syrian residents
  • Date: 10th February 2014
  • Summary: MAFRAQ, JORDAN (FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE ZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP VARIOUS OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE SUPERMARKET SIGN THAT READS: TAZWEED CENTER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE SUPERMARKET PEOPLE IN THE SUPERMARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LAUR SHIDRAWY, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, SAYING: "For the first time in a refugee camp, there is a large store, or supermarket, where refugees can select for themselves the goods and items they want. This was set up with help by the World Food Program." AN AISLE IN THE SUPERMARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LAUR SHIDRAWY, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, SAYING: "The World Food Program is currently distributing food coupons inside the camp. These are valued at 18 dinars In addition to this, we are also distributing food rations. However we are gradually decreasing the amount of food rations, and increasing the value of the coupons, until it reaches 24 dinars per person each month." VARIOUS OF A SYRIAN FAMILY LOOKING AT THE GOODS BOXES OF MILK IN THE SUPERMARKET SYRIAN SHOPPERS LOOKING AT ITEMS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABU SHADI, SYRIAN REFUGEE, SAYING: "The coupons are definitely better and easier to use. The centre is clean, and we receive a good service, the people who work here are great, they are making things easier for us in the camp." VARIOUS OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS SOLD IN THE CENTRE. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOHAMMED NAJI, SYRIAN REFUGEE, SAYING: "To be honest, the coupons are not enough, for those who have a large family they're not enough. We are paying out of our own pockets. We are here as refugees, so we don't have money or anything with us which might help. The coupons aren't enough." CLOSE UP OF A COUPON GIVEN TO THE REFUGEES SIGN THAT READS IN ARABIC: LOWEST PRICES, RED SYRIAN APPLES SHELVES FILLED WITH GOODS IN THE SUPERMARKET SYRIAN SHOPPERS WALKING THROUGH AN AISLE VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEES AT A CHECKOUT POINT YOUNG SYRIAN REFUGEE PUSHING A SHOPPING CART OUT OF THE SUPERMARKET
  • Embargoed: 25th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Conflict,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6PTNSW951EBBK0S21EO6AGX0C
  • Story Text: Syrian refugees living in the Zaatari camp now have the opportunity to shop in one of two newly opened supermarkets in the camp.
    The stores, called Tazweed and Safeway, stock a variety of items, and those behind it claim the stores can provide refugees with more independence and freedom in their daily lives.
    "For the first time in a refugee camp, there is a large store, or supermarket, where refugees can select for themselves the goods and items they want. This was set up with help by the World Food Program." said Laur Shidrawy, Communications Director for the WFP.
    With coupons, Syrians can choose from a diverse list of goods, including fresh produce such as chicken, meat, vegetables and fruits; items not usually included in conventional food rations.
    As it stands, the WFP distributes food coupons to refugees worth around 25 U.S. dollars (18 Jordanian dinar), the UN aid agency is hoping to increase that to just under 34 dollars per person.
    "The World Food Program is currently distributing food coupons inside the camp. These are valued at 18 dinars In addition to this, we are also distributing food rations. However we are gradually decreasing the amount of food rations, and increasing the value of the coupons, until it reaches 24 dinars per person each month," added Laur.
    The camp, located north east of Jordan, is home to over 120,000 refugees who fled the three year conflict. More than half of the refugees are children.
    Abu Shadi, who fled Syria with his family of four over a year ago, said he preferred shopping in the stores over receiving food rations, "The coupons are definitely better and easier to use. The centre is clean, and we receive a good service, the people who work here are great, they are making things easier for us in the camp," Abu Shadi Yet others in the camp say the 18 Jordanian dinars provided by the WFP aren't enough to cover their needs, "To be honest, the coupons are not enough, for those who have a large family they're not enough. We are paying out of our own pockets. We are here as refugees, so we don't have money or anything with us which might help. The coupons aren't enough," said Mohammed Naji, another Syrian refugee.
    The Jordanian authorities are struggling to keep up with the increasing needs of the camp's residents and only a fraction of the hundreds of millions of dollars of international aid pledged to help the Syrian refugees has arrived.
    But the WFP say they are assisting over half a million refugees in the country, both inside and outside the camps. Shidrawy says the coupon initiative has injected over $110 million into the Kingdom's local economy.
    The WFP ensured that half of the supermarkets' employees are Jordanians from the city of Mafraq, while the other half are camp residents.
    Jordan is one of Syria's four immediate neighbours, and along with Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, inundated with refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war. The country hosts close to 600,000 Syrian refugees.
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