JORDAN: Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring visits the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan

Record ID: 346778

  • Title: JORDAN: Oxfam chief executive Mark Goldring visits the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan
  • Date: 30th April 2013
  • Summary: MAFRAQ, JORDAN (APRIL 30, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WATER TANKS AT THE REFUGEE CAMP MARK GOLDRING, HEAD OF OXFAM, ARRIVING AT THE LOCATION GOLDRING WALKING BETWEEN THE TANKS WATER TANKS CLOSE UP OF MEN CONNECTING PIPES PIPES RUNNING THROUGH A HOLE IN THE GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARK GOLDRING, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF OXFAM, SAYING: "Oxfam's report is highlighting
  • Embargoed: 15th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,People,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVA506QZ6QRQMFFF539RK7P0JGCT
  • Story Text: Oxfam Chief Executive Mark Goldring paid a visit to the Zaatari refugee camp north of Jordan on Tuesday (April 30).
    Goldring toured the camp and inspected several different locations, including water tanks which supply the refugees and newly established bathrooms.
    "Oxfam's report is highlighting the real challenges to the lives and the well-being of people within Syria and refugee leaving Syria. Seven million people are affected by the war, and needing humanitarian assistance," said Goldring.
    "We're calling on the international community in two main ways. The first has got to be to pressurise Syria to allow humanitarian access full and free within Syria, because if we don't do that millions of people will suffer and die within Syria, also millions more will leave Syria, to come as refugees, to places like this camp in Jordan. The second issue we're looking for is the international community to provide the money which is needed to help the governments of Jordan and Lebanon," he added.
    The refugee camp in Mafraq currently hosts over 100,000 refugees and that number continues to grow daily.
    This large number of Syrians makes it increasingly difficult for camp officials to provide services and basic necessities for the refugees.
    "The only new thing they have provided are these bathrooms, and even these are not ready, we don't know how good or bad they are. Other locations have no services at all," said Abu Yazan, a refugee who said he has been living in the camp for months.
    According to the UNHCR, an average of 2,000 Syrians cross into Jordan daily, most of whom come to Jordan looking for safety for their families.
    Jordan maintains an open border policy for refugees and currently hosts over 400,000 refugees.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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