Zaatari refugee camp
The Zaatari refugee camp (Arabic: مخيم الزعتري) is a refugee camp in Jordan, located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of Mafraq, which has gradually evolved into a permanent settlement; it is the world's largest camp for Syrian refugees. It was first opened on 28 July 2012 to host Syrians fleeing the violence in the ongoing Syrian War that erupted in March 2011. It is connected to the road network by a short road which leads to Highway 10.
Zaatari
مخيم الزعتري | |
|---|---|
Refugee camp | |
Zaatari Location in Jordan | |
| Coordinates: 32°17′44.4″N 36°19′25.5″E | |
| Country | Jordan |
| Governorate | Mafraq Governorate |
| Settled | July 2012 |
| Government | |
| • Camp Manager from SRAD and Head of Sub-Office from UNHCR | The camp is jointly led by UNHCR the UN Refugee Agency and SRAD The Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2) |
| Population (2022) | |
| • Total | 82,000+- |
| • Density | 62,710/sq mi (24,212/km2) |
| figures from 2 January 2018 (UNHCR) | |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (UTC+3) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (UTC+3) |
| Area code | +(962) |
| Website | www.unhcr.org |
Early on, there were primarily issues with inadequate food supplies and inadequate housing. In 2013 it was reported that the camp was experiencing an increasing number of reports of crime. Demonstrations were or are used as a forum to create awareness of the conflict and to express political views against the current government led by Bashar al-Assad and the violence inflicted by the Syrian Armed Forces. Due to the maximum capacity of 60,000 refugees in March 2013 a second camp was built 20 kilometres east of Zarqa in the Marjeeb Al Fahood plains. On 5 April 2014 a riot resulted in a number of injuries to both refugees and Jordanian police. One refugee was killed by gunshot.
In 2015, filmmakers Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple lived in Zaatari for a month, resulting in the documentary Salam Neighbor.