Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan

https://goo.gl/maps/coCm9HY9jJC2

An estimated 4 million refugees have fled Syria since the start of the conflict in 2011. The Zaatari (مخيم الزعتري) refugee camp, a three-square-mile piece of land located in the desolate Jordanian desert, is now a semi-permanent home for tens of thousands of refugees, most originating in Syria’s Southwest.

The camp is located 10 km east of Mafraq and first opened on 28th July 2012. It is now the 4th largest ‘city’ Jordan with over 100,000 inhabitants. Zaatari, which was initially designed to host a maximum of 60,000 inhabitants.

The camp is made up of 30,000 shelters and administration buildings, 3 hospitals, 3 schools, and a market-like structure of 3,000 makeshift shops on the so-called ‘Champs Elysees’, selling a wide range of food, household goods, and clothes.

Just over half of inhabitants are under the age of 18, so schooling is difficult. Although there are several schools on the campsite, the regular attendance of classes is very low. Leadership in the camp is a major issue with the presence of gang leaders, causing concerns for the UNHCR who have been encouraging traditional Syrian leaders (who were previously involved in their communities) to come forward as leaders.

Even within this small eco-system, socio-economic inequalities have been observed, with a widening gap between those whose economic situation improved by the renewed economic market of the camp, and those who are still highly dependent on international aid.

#earthimages #earthimage #upintheair #abovetheclouds #satelliteimage #satelliteimages #EarthOverhead #zaatari #refugee #zaatarirefugeecamp #jordan #unhcr

Also in Around the Globe

Monopoli, Italy

Sitting on Puglia's Adriatic coast around 30km south of Bari, Monopoli is a lovely town for a day trip, possibly in combination with Polignano a Mare just up the coast, mixing a dip in the sea with a good lunch and a wander around the old town centre.

Like so many towns on the Adriatic, Monopoli's history has been thoroughly influenced by its east-facing position and its fortified sea-front walls and castle tell many a story.

Parking in or around Piazza XX Settembre, location of a colourful street market, head east towards the cathedral. To find it just look upwards and you are sure to see its elegantly conceived bell tower thrusting into the sky. Built in 1693, the tower is over 60 metres high, completely dominating the town below.

Tunis, Tunisia

In Tunisia's capital, the term 'living history' really does apply. Here, waves of colonisation have endowed the city's fabric and culture with an intoxicatingly rich and complex flavour that becomes apparent wherever you explore.

Take the magnificent medieval medina, sidelined by the French after colonisation but coming into its own in the 21st century, as boutique hotels open and arty cafes lure locals back to the neighbourhoods their grandparents grew up in. And consider the historic settlement of Carthage, once colonised by Phoenicians and Romans but now the province of upwardly mobile locals, whose sophisticated lives play out among the ruins.

Ed Dueim, Sudan

Ed Dueim is on the west bank of the White Nile, between Khartoum and Kosti. It is home to the University of Bakht, which lies to the north of the town. The university has played an important role in promoting education throughout Sudan. It is known for its two-year course called Al Sanatain, which prepared teachers to teach school, attracting students from all regions of Sudan and neighbouring countries.