Mrajeeb Al Fhood refugee camp explained

Mrajeeb Al Fhood
Settlement Type:Refugee camp
Flag Size:180px
Pushpin Map:Jordan
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Jordan
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Jordan
Subdivision Type1:Governorate
Subdivision Name1:Zarqa Governorate
Leader Title:director-general
Leader Name:Saif Ali Al Dhaher[1]
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:2013
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:0.34
Population As Of:2013
Population Note:figures from January 7, 2015 (est.)
Population Total:4,196
Population Density Km2:12341
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Timezone:UTC+2
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:UTC+3
Utc Offset Dst:+3
Coordinates:32.0313°N 36.4495°W

Mrajeeb Al Fhood refugee camp (also spelled variously as Murijep al Fhoud and Marjeeb Al Fahood and also known as Emirati-Jordanian[2]) is a refugee camp for refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War. It is located in Mrajeeb Al Fhood, a stretch of arid plains some 20 kilometers east of Zarqa, Jordan. It was opened in April 2013 to cope with the overflow from Zaatari refugee camp and is funded by the United Arab Emirates.[3]

At the time of building, Jordanian officials feared that the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan could double in the following six months as the fighting escalated during warmer weather.[4], the camp had a population of 4,196;[5] in 2017 it housed about the same number.[2]

Mrajeeb Al Fhood is only infrequently visited by journalists due to its isolated location in the Jordanian desert. It is considered a “five star camp”, guaranteeing the best human conditions to refugees. For Syrians fleeing war, upgrading one's own life means being able to relocate to this camp. It gives priority to widows with children, single women, the elderly, disabled people, or large families; single men are not allowed.[6]

In 2017, a delegation of members from the European Parliament (MEPs) of the “EU-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group”, the first of its kind by a European parliamentary delegation since the opening of the camp.[7] In 2018, the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), with the support of the UAE Embassy in Jordan, launched a humanitarian initiative to support the Syrian refugees by providing and distributing a total of 2,400 school bags, stationery and other essential educational supplies for the students of the camp.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Serving up five-star service for refugees the UAE way. 29 October 2013.
  2. Book: Migrants, Asylum Seekers And Refugees In Jordan, 2017. 17 December 2018. Jussi. Jauhiainen. Ekaterina. Vorobeva. University of Turku. 978-951-29-7189-3.
  3. Web site: UAE-funded camp for Syrian refugees opens in Jordan . . 11 April 2013 . 22 December 2013.
  4. Book: Gavlak, Dale. MIGRANTS, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES IN JORDAN, 2017: Second camp for Syrian refugees opens in Jordan . . 10 April 2013 . 22 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20180821223151/https://www.yahoo.com/news/second-camp-syrian-refugees-opens-jordan-111343324.html. 21 August 2018.
  5. Web site: Emirati Jordanian Camp (Murijep al Fhoud) . . 7 January 2015 . 7 January 2015.
  6. Web site: The UAE-funded Mrajeeb al-Fhood Syrian refugee camp in Jordan. Can humanitarianism ever upgrade?. Carpi. Estella. 8 February 2015. 17 December 2018. Trends Research & Advisory. https://web.archive.org/web/20190608180300/http://trendsinstitution.org/the-uae-funded-mrajeeb-al-fhood-syrian-refugee-camp-in-jordan-can-humanitarianism-ever-upgrade/. 8 June 2019. dead.
  7. Web site: Members of European Parliament Visit UAE-Jordanian Camp Mrajeeb Al Fhood for Syrian Refugees. 1 November 2017. WAM. Inter Press Service.
  8. Web site: DIHAD offers ray of hope to Syrian children at 'Mrajeeb Al Fhood' Refugee Camp in Jordan. Reliefweb. 17 December 2018. Emirates News Agency. 12 September 2018 .