Jordan - As thousands of Syrian refugees continue to flood into Jordan, the People’s Republic of China has contributed USD 200,000 to IOM’s operation to provide medical aid and transport from the border to Za’atari refugee camp.

IOM has worked closely with the Jordanian Armed Forces at the border to provide medical screening and buses to transport over 100,000 new arrivals to the camp, since the site opened on July 29th 2012. Za’atari now houses over 60,000 people.

IOM bus convoys, which run between the border and the camp 24/7, transport anywhere between 3,500 and a few hundred refugees daily.

Numbers peaked yesterday morning, with 3,581 people boarding IOM buses in the previous 24 hour period. In the past week, IOM buses have picked up some 18,345 Syrian refugees at the border.

The increase may be partly due to intensified conflict in southern Syria. It may also be partly due to better weather and an end to the winter storms that have blanketed the region in snow for several weeks.

As part of its transportation services, IOM provides pre-registration and reception services to newly arriving refugees. IOM medical teams also conduct initial health screenings, including referrals to health care providers at the camp.

According to UNHCR, some 200,000 Syrian refugees have entered Jordan since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in March 2011. The Jordanian authorities believe the number is closer to 250,000.

Jordan plans to open a second camp at Zarqa next month to cope with the rising inflow of refugees and reduce over-crowding in Za’atari.
 
A major humanitarian donor conference to raise funding for Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries and internally displaced people inside Syria is scheduled to take place in Kuwait on January 30th 2013. IOM is appealing for USD 2.26 million for its Syrian relief operations in Jordan.

For more information please contact

Veronica Costarelli
IOM Jordan
Tel. +962-6-562-5080 Ext. 818
Mobile: +962-795-882-059
Email: vcostarelli@iom.int