Azraq, the second largest refugee camp in Jordan, shelters nowadays 55,000 Syrian refugees. Only this year the camp has received 20,000 new refugees from the so-called berm or “no man’s land” located between Syria and Jordan. The planned aid is going to be granted by the Czech Ministry of Interior and it will be provided primarily for construction of new housing, restoration of the existing ones, and construction of roads in the camp.

Representatives from the UNHCR informed the Czech delegation about the major life problems of the refugees in the camp, and introduced specific goals that can be achieved via the Czech aid. Currently, a six member family has to live in a shelter of 6x4 meters, sanitary facilities are shared by members of every six shelter units. UNHCR’s camp management highlighted the benefits of the planned Czech aid which will greatly improve the living conditions of the refugees.

Ambassador Hladik stressed that the humanitarian and development activities of the Czech Republic are not focused on benefiting refugee camps only, but on Jordan as a whole. The Ministry of Interior will provide a direct assistance to the Jordanian Government to help with handling the refugee crisis in Jordan.  Also, it is planned to continue the successful health program MEDEVAC in Jordan, which is fully in line with the intention of the Czech government to assist directly in countries affected by the conflict going on in the Middle Eastern region.