On Saturday, Daryl Byler (one of my MCC bosses) visited the Za’atari Refugee Camp near Mafraq, Jordan -- about six miles away from the Syrian border.
More than 100,000 Syrian refugees now live in this camp, and as many as 4,000 new refugees are received each night. The influx is taxing Za’atari’s infrastructure, as well as its NGO workers.
The number of Syrian refugees in Jordan now exceeds 400,000. This is a small country, and resources are already scarce. The consequence is immense stress on local resources.
In response to the two-year-old conflict in Syria (which has killed more than 70,000 Syrians), MCC has provided over $1 million in humanitarian aid -- food, blankets, clothing, milk, diapers, school kits, basic medical supplies. In addition to supporting the distribution of resources, MCC is investing in trauma assistance and peace-building training. Alongside the Lutheran World Federation, MCC is currently designing a program that offers strategies and tools for humanitarian workers who are increasingly stressed by the crisis.
If you want to follow MCC Jordan’s work, you can check out the blog of the country’s representatives: http://cindydarylbyler.wordpress.com/
Grace and Peace.
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