Syrian refugees in Jordan struggle with winter weather
- 11 years ago
As winter sets in, Syrian refugees at a camp in Jordan are struggling to keep their tents warm.
A young mother lost one of her daughters to a fire.
U.N. officials say the fire might have been caused by an electrical line the family had stolen and was using in the tent.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SANAA, SYRIAN REFUGEE, SAYING:
"I woke up and felt the fire over me in the tent, one of my young girls was sleeping next to me, I immediately carried her out of the tent. As I began looking for my other two children, my hands caught on fire, so the men carried me out and told me they will get my kids."
Another woman says the refugees have run out of gas for heating and have not received blankets.
But her pleas for help are not for herself.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UM MOHAMMED, SYRIAN REFUGEE, SAYING:
"I call upon all Muslims, and anyone who is of religion and faith, we don't want you to help us here in Zaatari, help our brothers in Syria who are still there. They are being massacred and are dying, their pride has been stolen by Bashar [al-Assad]."
The Zaatari refugee camp houses over 45,000 Syrian refugees who have fled the civil war at home.
More than half a million Syrians have escaped to neighbouring countries, and the UN refugee agency estimates 3,000 new people are seeking refugee status daily.
A young mother lost one of her daughters to a fire.
U.N. officials say the fire might have been caused by an electrical line the family had stolen and was using in the tent.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SANAA, SYRIAN REFUGEE, SAYING:
"I woke up and felt the fire over me in the tent, one of my young girls was sleeping next to me, I immediately carried her out of the tent. As I began looking for my other two children, my hands caught on fire, so the men carried me out and told me they will get my kids."
Another woman says the refugees have run out of gas for heating and have not received blankets.
But her pleas for help are not for herself.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UM MOHAMMED, SYRIAN REFUGEE, SAYING:
"I call upon all Muslims, and anyone who is of religion and faith, we don't want you to help us here in Zaatari, help our brothers in Syria who are still there. They are being massacred and are dying, their pride has been stolen by Bashar [al-Assad]."
The Zaatari refugee camp houses over 45,000 Syrian refugees who have fled the civil war at home.
More than half a million Syrians have escaped to neighbouring countries, and the UN refugee agency estimates 3,000 new people are seeking refugee status daily.