syrian refugees prepare for another long winter

The following piece was published 8 November 2013, SBS World News Australia Radio.

By Ildi Amon
Melbourne

Hundreds-of-thousands of Syrian refugees are preparing for another long winter away from their homes. 

Ildi Amon reports on the situation in the biggest camp for Syrian refugees, the Zaatari camp in Jordan.

As the wintry weather begins Syrian refugees living in Zatari are using whatever resources they can to prepare.

Some are reinforcing their tents while others are fixing the roofs on their container homes.

Syrian refugee Abu Yasser says he's dreading the freezing months ahead, as he remembers the harsh conditions last year when tents were destroyed and container homes were flooded.

Translated: "I'm trying to fix this roof because of the possible rain, to protect us and our children. They are not giving out any blankets or heaters, life in the camp is very difficult. People recall the harsh winter of last year, so we are doing as much as we can to protect ourselves."

Children make up more than half of the 120,000 Syrians living in the desert camp.

And one resident, Khalaf Khattab, says neither the Jordanian authorities nor aid agencies are providing any help.

Translated: "So far, we have received nothing, they have not given us gas or heaters, nothing at the beginning of the winter. Up to this moment, we have not received anything."

Some refugees have decided to take matters into their own hands leaving the camp to purchase supplies they can then sell to other refugees at the camp.

Syrian Abu Dujana says that while it's difficult to exit and re-enter the camp, he regularly leaves in order to bring in supplies he sells at a small stall.

Translated: "The goods that we bring include winter clothes, tools and other items needed for the coming winter. As for the conditions we are facing in the camp, this weather will be very difficult because we are living in a desert."

Jordan is one of Syria's four neighbours and along with Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq is inundated with refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war.

Of more than two-million refugees, almost one third are in Jordan, making up almost 10 per cent of its population.