For the past six years, Hala, a Syrian refugee, has been receiving free treatment for her diabetes and hypertension from a clinic near her home in Za’atari refugee camp, Jordan. She knows she’s lucky – healthcare in Jordan is expensive and facilities are stretched, particularly post-COVID.
“It means I don’t have to leave the camp to get my medicines,” says Hala. “If this centre didn’t exist, I could be forced to purchase medicine, which I cannot afford.”
This is just one of the many, varied reasons that Hala and other refugees have decided to remain in Za’atari, years after they fled to Jordan. Over 80 per cent of refugees in Jordan live in urban areas, including many of the female-headed households supported by the Leading Women Fund. In choosing to live outside the camps, they have greater autonomy and privacy, but the flipside is that they also have to find money to cover rent, food, medicine and everything else they need for themselves and their children.
“If you live inside the camp, you receive free shelter, water, electricity and education – and it’s safe,” says Moh’d Al-Taher, Associate External Relation Officer at Mafraq Sub Office – Za’atari camp, who has been working here since 2014. “Jordan is expensive in the cities. But the camp is also crowded and there is less privacy. So every single person has their own reasons for making that choice.”
Hala, 53, suffers from diabetes, hypertension and vitamin deficiencies. She has received primary health support from the IMC centre in Za'atari Camp since 2016.
© UNHCR/YousefAlHariri
"It means I don’t have to leave the camp to get my medicines. If this centre didn’t exist, I could be forced to purchase medicine, which I cannot afford," says Hala.
Nour, 28, a Syrian refugee living in Za’atari Refugee Camp, Jordan, has owned her own wedding dress shop and salon in the camp for the last three years. © UNHCR/Shawkat Alharfosh
Established in July 2012, one year after the start of the Syrian conflict, Za’atari has grown from a huddle of tents to a semi-permanent city. At its peak in 2015, it housed around 125,000 Syrian refugees, many of whom came initially from Daraa in southern Syria, where the conflict started.
“Refugees who came later, often from other areas of Syria – such as Damascus, Aleppo, Hama – tended to find accommodation in urban areas as there wasn’t space in Za’atari and later Azraq camps,” says Lilly Carlisle, External Relations Officer for UNHCR Jordan. “Over time, however, many refugees who initially lived in the camps decided to leave.”
Now, Za’atari camp, the largest of its kind in the Middle East, houses 81,000 people, and remains under the joint administration of Jordan’s Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate and UNHCR.
Containing 32 schools, eight medical clinics, playgrounds, mosques and even paved streets in some of the older parts, Za’atari covers 13 square kilometres. Prefabricated houses have now replaced many tents, and a bustling thoroughfare, nicknamed “Champs-Élysées”, is the heart of the camp’s economic life. There, residents sell fruit and vegetables, homemade food, mobile phones and all sorts of other goods, as well as offering hairdressing and beauty services from small shacks.
Many refugees work incredibly hard to improve their circumstances and generate income of their own. After arriving at Za’atari in 2013, for example, Nour worked as a make-up artist before saving enough money to open her own wedding salon. Now, Nour designs wedding dresses and does hair and make-up for brides.
UNHCR provides protection and services in coordination with almost 40 other partners and organisations. Refugees receive JOD23 ($59) a month, via a Blockchain system, which can be redeemed at two supermarkets and several bread stalls inside the camp. They also receive cash assistance for a range of other items, from cooking gas to sanitary pads.
“In my eight years working at the camp, the biggest change I’ve seen is in refugees’ sense of hope,” says Mr Al-Taher
There is freedom of movement between Za’atari and the rest of Jordan, says Mr Al-Taher, but since 2016 the government has asked refugees to nominate their permanent place of residence. Those who choose to stay in Za’atari can apply for permits to leave to work or study for up to a month at a time, so they can work locally or take jobs further away from the camp.
“Within the camp, many women choose to work in an incentive-based volunteering (IBV) program,” Mr Al-Taher explains. “This is a scheme whereby refugees can work alongside NGOs in paid various roles, such as teaching. They might work for five hours a day and we have childcare available for them. As you can imagine, these roles are in high demand, so we rotate them for a few months at a time.”
Services for women also include dedicated community spaces, clinics, and programs to encourage entrepreneurialism.
The Mask House, for example, opened in August 2020 to provide a livelihood for women through the production of face masks. So far, refugee women have produced over 150,000 masks.
“Now that demand for masks has reduced, the sewing machines at the Mask House are available for refugees to use for their own projects, or work training,” says Mr Al-Taher.
A Syrian refugee makes non-surgical face masks at Zaatari refugee camp. Opened in early-August 2020, The Mask House in Zaatari employs 60 refugee women to produce masks for the camp’s population and to sell to humanitarian organisations. © UNHCR/Shawkat Alharfosh
Za’atari camp, Jordan. Established in July 2012, one year after the start of the Syrian conflict, Za’atari has grown from a huddle of tents to a semi-permanent city. © UNHCR/YousefAlHariri
Despite his team’s best efforts, there are fewer work opportunities inside the camp than in the cities.
“In the vulnerability assessment survey we just launched, 25 per cent of refugees living in camps have income from work, compared to 52 per cent of refugees in urban areas,” says Lilly.
In fact, a lack of opportunity is one of the main reasons that Syrian refugees may want to leave Za’atari. Once young people finish school, their options are limited even if they’ve excelled at school.
“In my eight years working at the camp, the biggest change I’ve seen is in refugees’ sense of hope,” says Mr Al-Taher. “At the start of the crisis, most of them hoped to return to Syria quickly, but now they ask for resettlement to another country, which is increasingly rare.
“We’re talking about a generation that is being raised inside the camp, and once they’ve finished school their options are limited. Without a scholarship, they can’t afford university, and scholarships are few.
“It’s hard for us to see this, but we are doing our best to find opportunities and hope for refugees.”
Share this:
You can help
Host a bake sale, climb a mountain or do a fun run to raise funds for vital aid.
Privacy Policy
Australia for UNHCR (ABN 35 092 843 322) respects the importance of privacy and security of your personal information. This privacy policy sets out the way we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information and underpins our commitment to protecting your right to privacy. This policy reflects Australia for UNHCR’s obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (including the Australian Privacy Principles) (the Privacy Act). As members of the following bodies, we adhere to additional codes of conduct and ethical fundraising practices:
We may revise this Privacy Policy or any part of it from time to time. You will find the most current version on our website or obtain a copy from our Donor Care Team; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.
Collection of Personal Information
Australia for UNHCR follows the Australian Privacy Principles in handling personal information; we collect personal information about individuals including supporters, employees, contractors, volunteers, special representatives/delegates and job applicants. This information may be collected directly from you in person, by phone or email, on hard copy donation forms, via our website or social media. We may also collect your personal information from publically available sources or third parties.
Use of Personal Information
The personal information we collect and hold generally includes contact details (i.e. name, address, email and phone number), personal details including date of birth, and credit card or bank accounts details.
We use the personal information you provide us with for the purpose for which it was provided to us, other related purposes or as permitted or required by law. Generally we collect and use your personal information for:
As detailed below we also use your information in our marketing and fundraising activities, keeping you informed of our latest news, campaigns and appeals or about campaigns and appeals which may be of interest to you. We may also offer you the opportunity to participate in surveys carried out by Australia for UNHCR or its agents.
By completing our donation and pledge forms you consent to Australia for UNHCR storing your personal information for processing donations, communicating with you, issuing receipts and sharing with our trusted service providers. We will endeavour to provide you with an opportunity to opt out of receiving future communications and make every effort to ensure that our opt-out notices are clear and easy to follow. If you do not wish to receive future communications from Australia for UNHCR or wish to limit the use of your personal information then please contact our Donor Care Team; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.
Direct Marketing
We use your personal details to assist in the cost-effective development of our marketing and fundraising activities by sending you information by post, email, SMS or telephone. As we have a large number of supporters, at times we use external providers to assist with our telemarketing and mailing. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that our contracts with third parties include requirements for third parties to comply with the use and disclosure requirements of the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles.
Disclosure and Sharing of Personal Information
We occasionally invite other like-minded and trusted organisations in Australia to contact you with information that may be of interest. This allows Australia for UNHCR to increase its base of supporters and reach more people with our vital message.
Any personal contact information you provide to us may be disclosed, if appropriate, to third parties who provide services on our behalf. We may also disclose your personal information to our volunteers who assist with many of our events and administration duties.
Strict confidentiality agreements are in place with our service providers and external agencies, and with staff and volunteers who handle your personal information. We will only disclose your personal information for the purposes for which it was initially collected, other directly related purposes or purposes to which you otherwise consent.
Other than as stated above, we will not share your personal information. However, it is possible, though unlikely, that we might be forced to disclose personal information in response to legal processes or when we believe in good faith that the law requires it, for example, in response to a court order, subpoena or a law enforcement agency's request.
If you do not wish Australia for UNHCR to share your personal information with like-minded and trusted organisations in Australia, you may opt out by ticking the related boxes on our donation pledge forms or by contacting our Donor Care team; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.
Access and Correction of Personal Information
Australia for UNHCR will correct its records containing personal information as soon as practically possible at the request of the individual concerned in accordance with the Privacy Act. We take reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information that we collect and hold is accurate, complete and up-to-date. However, we rely on you to advise us of any changes to your personal information to help us maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date information.
We will, on request, provide you with access to the personal information we hold about you unless otherwise required or permitted by law. We will notify you of the basis for any denial of access to your personal information.
Individuals wishing to lodge a request to access and/or correct their personal information should do so by contacting our Donor Care Team; contact details are included at the bottom of this document.
Quality of Personal Information
Australia for UNHCR will review, on a regular and ongoing basis, its collection and storage practices to ascertain how improvements to accuracy can be achieved. We may utilise the services of third parties in order to maintain accurate personal information. Where such disclosure is made, we take reasonable steps to require these organisations comply with the Australian Privacy Principles.
Storage and Security of Information
We strive to protect your personal information, that it is protected from misuse, loss, interference and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. For example, whenever we ask for your financial details online, we use industry standard security on our website forms.
No data transmission over the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, Australia for UNHCR cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us over the internet, and you do so at your own risk. Once we receive your transmission, we make our best effort to try and ensure its security both on our systems and while in transit between our systems and the companies who provide us with various services. Third party service providers may use data centres overseas or be located overseas. If you do not wish to make your financial contribution online, please contact our Donor Care Team to receive a hard copy form; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.
Making a Privacy Complaint
If you wish to make a complaint about a breach of this privacy policy, the Privacy Act or the Australian Privacy Principles you can contact our Donor Care Team; contact details are included at the bottom of this policy.
We will manage your complaint in accordance with our Complaints Policy. You will need to provide us with sufficient details regarding your complaint as well as any supporting evidence and/or information. We will contact you if we require any additional information from you and will notify you in writing of the outcome of the investigation. If you are not satisfied with our determination, you can contact us to discuss your concerns. If your complaint is about the way we handle your personal information, you may also contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by calling 1300 363 992, online at www.oaic.gov.au or writing to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218 Sydney NSW 2001.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
A4U does not have an establishment in the European Union (EU), does not offer goods or services to individuals in the EU and does not monitor behaviour of individuals as far as their behaviour takes place in the EU. Individuals located in the EU should contact UNHCR’s National Representatives in their respective countries or via the global UNHCR website.
Online Activity and Privacy
Cookies
Cookies are small text files which are downloaded to and stored on your device when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used by website owners to provide you with a good experience while you browse, and also to provide information which can help website owners to improve websites.
Our site uses cookies to:
We do not use cookies to:
What cookies do we use and for what purposes?
The cookies used on our site fall into four categories – strictly necessary cookies, functional cookies, performance cookies and advertising cookies. Each of these categories is explained below along with details of the specific cookies used, though within each category we may use additional or alternative cookies at any time.
Please note that third parties (including, for example, advertising networks and providers of external services like web traffic analysis services) may also use cookies, over which we have no control. These cookies are likely to be performance cookies or advertising cookies.
1. Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are essential for our site to work, for example to allow you to make a donation, submit a service request or register for an event on our site.
2. Functional cookies
These cookies enhance your experience whilst using the site by recognising you when you return to our site; for example, by remembering your content or accessibility preferences.
3. Performance cookies
These cookies collect information about how visitors use our websites, such as which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies do not collect personal information; all information collected by these cookies is aggregated and therefore anonymous.
4. Advertising cookies
These cookies contain campaign related information on or for the user. Remarketing is a way for us to connect with people who have recently interacted with our site. We may place remarketing cookies on your device during your visit so that our preferred selected third-party suppliers, including Google, may use the information gathered to show you relevant Australia for UNHCR advertising when you visit other websites. If we have linked our Google Analytics and AdWords accounts, AdWords website conversion tags will read these cookies unless you opt-out.
5. Third party cookies, pixels and SDKs
We use some third party services or software on our website including cookies, Facebook pixels and SDKs. Third parties, including Facebook, YouTube, Google and Twitter may use cookies, web beacons and other storage technologies to collect or receive information from our website and elsewhere on the Internet and use that information to provide measurement services and target ads. A4U does not control the setting of these services or software, so we suggest you check the third party website for more information about how to opt out of the collection and use of information for ad targeting.
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them on a wide variety of desktop browsers, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.aboutads.info/choices
Why we use cookies
When you visit our website our server tracks non-personal statistical information about your experience on the site, such as pages viewed and donation details. Australia for UNHCR websites uses cookies and tracking technology to enhance your experience and deliver content relevant to your behaviour. This enables us to gather information such as the number of website visits and how you interact with our website. We use this information to help us understand more about how our site is used, so we can continually improve your experience.
We also use cookies for tracking the statistics of our website, which allows us to better understand your visit and improve the layout and functionality of our website. This analysis is conducted in such a way to ensure the anonymity of visitors while the information can help us customise the online experience for visitor to our site. No personally identifiable information is obtained. Information is gathered at an aggregate level and may be shared with third parties to help us analyse website usage and deliver marketing material.
By accepting our cookie policy and continuing to use our sites without changing settings, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Controlling the use of cookies
If you do not wish to receive any cookies you may set your browser to either prompt you to accept cookies on each visit or refuse all cookies.
Most internet browsers automatically accept cookies unless you change your browser settings. If you wish to restrict, block or delete the cookies which are set by any websites, you can generally do this through your browser settings. These settings are usually found in the 'options' or 'preferences' menu of your internet browser.
Please note however, that if you set your internet browser preferences to block all cookies, you may not be able to access all or parts of our site. Unless you have adjusted your internet browser settings to block cookies, our site will set cookies.
We use some third party services or software on our website. Third parties, including Facebook, YouTube, Google and Twitter may use cookies, web beacons and other storage technologies to collect or receive information from our website and elsewhere on the Internet and use that information to provide measurement services and target ads. A4U does not control the setting of these cookies, so we suggest you check the third party website for more information about how to opt out of their collection and use of information for ad targeting.
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them on a wide variety of desktop browsers, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.aboutads.info/choices
Social Media
Our website and mobile site may contain links to online forums. Think carefully before you post or publish any Personal Information in these forums as it will be publicly available.
Secure Online Transactions
If you make a donation via our website, we process your credit/debit card details securely using an accredited internet payment security system. With the combination of SSL encryption on our website and a secure browser at your end, we take all reasonable measures to ensure that your credit/debit card and personal information are protected when you donate online. We also recommend that you take appropriate security precautions when accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi networks or shared computers.
Contact Us
You will find the most current version of our Privacy Policy on our website at privacy-policy.
If you have any questions about your privacy, wish to access or change your details, how to lodge a complaint regarding the handling of your information and how that complaint will be handled by Australia for UNHCR, please contact our Donor Care Team:
