supermarkets and water conservation take priority at a syrian startup refugee camp - solar street lighting system

In 2012, UNHCR built Zaatari camp in just two weeks to accommodate a large influx of refugees, quickly overpopulated and rapidly expanding to meet housing, health care needs, food distribution and security needs.
Last week, the Jordanian government and the United StatesN. opened the $63.
5 million Azraq refugee camp.
To accommodate 130,000 Syrian refugees, it could become the second
The largest camp in the world
After complaints from residents and donors about the crude tents initially set up in Zatari and winter, the tents ran short of necessities such as blankets, officials said, the design and management of Azraq noted lessons learned and will adopt the concept of "village" with decentralized services and facilities.
Here, UNHCR's external relations officials, Andy Needham and Oxfam Zaatari project manager and Jordan's interim national director, Andrew Bosco, are all considering whether a new camp is needed.
Syria: How great is it to need a new camp?
Andrew Boscoe: Azraq has been discussing for a long time.
UNHCR and other actors took a long time to find a location.
The Jordanian government said Azraq was used, but most organizations initially opposed the site because it was very isolated and it was in the desert and not near a major town.
So it's harder for refugees and aid [to get there].
But the government said it was there or there was no place, so UNHCR agreed.
Of course, we need a new camp because we have about 100,000 residents.
In the past two or three months, the population has grown a lot, and when you drive or walk, you can see that it is filled.
The opening of Azraq has been announced three or four times [
Nothing happened.
But I think the fact that Zaatari is capable now puts pressure on the government to open it up.
Syria: What do international organizations think about the location of the camp?
The location of Azraq is not the best, partly because it is a remote place.
It is the way out in the desert.
Zaatari is very close to Mafraq [
A city of nearly 60,000 people
There is quite a lot of trade [
Between the city and the camp]
Even if there shouldn't be.
Depth of Syria: how many newcomers have you seen since the camp opened last week?
Andy Needham: Our camp was open very well last Wednesday and until Thursday last week the new arrivals continued to pass through Zaatari.
As of Friday, we began to accept all newly arrived refugees, and so far we have received 1,133 refugees.
More than 50% are children, which is similar to what we see in Zaatari.
We have asked families here to reunite with family members of Azraq Zaatari, so we have decided to receive refugees already in the country for family reunions.
Syrian depth: What lessons have you applied Zaatari in Azraq's design?
Needham: In last March, the government provided land in Azraq, so more than a year of planning, development and construction went into the refugee camps, which is unusual in the refugee response.
The Azraq camp is designed to look and function like a real city instead of an emergency camp.
There are paved roads connecting the villages, which are divided into slots where the shelters are located.
So far, UNHCR has set up 2,500 shelters with community centres, clinics, parks, playgrounds, police stations, private cooking and cleaning areas in villages.
With two hospitals, two schools, 2,000 sanitation facilities, mosques, community centres and supermarkets, Syrians can buy food with WFP's rechargeable assistance card.
This is the first time since the first day of the camp that supermarkets have opened in the camp.
In the hospital, there are 130 beds for secondary care.
It is unusual to have a secondary care hospital.
There is usually a base camp hospital in the camp, but the hospital is responsible for maternal delivery and elective surgery and provides services such as ophthalmology and dentistry.
There are two schools in the camp.
The first school was open to children who had arrived but only received informal education for their basic needs.
Their formal education will begin at the beginning of the school year in September, when there will be more children in the camp.
Bosco: I heard they have an apartment.
Pack the Ikea housing that was fixed on the ground, and in Zaatari, they were in tents at the beginning, and now many of them are in [caravan]trailers]
Mainly donated by the Gulf states.
People can walk around.
You will find three or four caravans for wealthy refugees now.
At Afraq, the plan is to solve this problem with this new [housing]
Something more grounded.
But I believe they will eventually figure out how to move them.
There will be a market for Afraq.
There are two fairly large camp markets and supermarkets in Zatari.
In Azraq, because it is more isolated, there will be fewer job opportunities in the camp and less money in circulation, so it may mean less [number]industry]in Azraq.
Syria: How do you minimize the environmental impact of refugee camps on Jordan?
Needham: Jordan is the fourth largest water country in the world
Water is a big problem for us.
In Zaatari, water is delivered through the water tank system, which often leaks or does not run.
At Azraq, water is delivered through the tap, which helps to minimize the waste of water.
At Zaatari, the electricity is connected to the local street light power system, which is not planned.
Currently, there is no electricity available due to Azraq's distance from other communities.
Over the next few weeks we will be installing solar lighting systems near all villages, public areas and toilets so that we can avoid drainage from the Jordan grid.
Syria: How does having avrak as an option affect urban refugees in Jordan?
Needham: about 80% of Syrians in Jordan live in urban areas.
Syrians are not allowed to work in Jordan, but many Syrians choose to live in urban areas closer to jobs.
But in urban settings they have to pay rent and it is difficult to maintain a balance of payments, so we expect people to have to go back to the camp environment.