JORDAN: Aid groups provide relief to Syrian refugees

Record ID: 280101

  • Title: JORDAN: Aid groups provide relief to Syrian refugees
  • Date: 19th December 2011
  • Summary: RRAMTHA, JORDAN (DECEMBER 15, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ISLAMIC CHARITY CENTRE SIGN READING (Arabic): 'THE ISLAMIC CHARITY CENTRE, ORPHANS CARE CENTRE' VARIOUS OF TRUCKS LADEN WITH AID PARKED NEAR CENTRE BOXES OF HEATERS PEOPLE WAITING AID WORKERS UNLOADING BOXES OFF VAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAMI AREDA, AID CAMPAIGN ORGANISER SAYING "We expect the number of refug
  • Embargoed: 3rd January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan, Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: International Relations,People,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVADCHNXD28DRECKE8Y2EOV2TR2W
  • Story Text: Jordanian organisations sent aid-laden caravans on Thursday (December 15) to northern cities to provide relief for hundreds of Syrian refugees who fled a military crackdown against pro-democracy protests.
    Activists from Jordan's labour unions, who have been organising the campaign alongside the Islamist movement, said they expect more arrivals in the coming weeks as violence escalates in the neighbouring country.
    "We expect the number of refugees to increase in the coming weeks, and particularly during the coming two weeks due to army incursion in a number of (Syrian) towns such as Hama, Homs and Deraa. We noticed that nearly 10 families arrive every day in different (Jordanian) areas including Ramtha, Mafraq and Amman," said one of the campaign organisers, Sami Areeda of the Professional Association Union.
    The United Nation Agency for Refugees (UNHCR) said nearly 1,500 displaced Syrians have registered for asylum in Jordan since an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad started in March. Aid groups say the number of families that have settled in the kingdom has reached 5,000.
    Most refugees who arrived through official border points or landmine-infested frontier, have been accommodated in flats or public schools.
    Refugees live in difficult conditions, struggling to survive on aid handouts from local philanthropist groups.
    Mahmoud, who comes from the restive city of Deraa, told Reuters he cannot find a job while his family struggles to make do with meagre assistance they receive.
    "Life is very difficult. It is expensive here and nothing is available. Life is difficult in all aspects. We are strangers, without work, harassed by regime loyalists near the Syrian embassy in Amman and embassy staff," he said, surrounded by his children in a run-down flat in Ramtha.
    The U.N. says Assad's crackdown on the protests, inspired by uprisings across the Arab world this year, has killed more than 5,000 people. Authorities blame armed gangs for the violence and say 1,100 soldiers and police have been killed.
    The Arab League suspended Syria and declared economic sanctions against Damascus over its failure to accept a peace proposal,, joining the United States, European Union and neighbouring Turkey who have also imposed sanctions. It said it may take its initiative to the UN Security Council next week unless Damascus agrees to implement it.
    Syria prevents most international media from operating in the country, making it difficult to independently verify witness and official accounts.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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