The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr José Manuel García-Margallo, arrived to visit the Syrians refugee camp of Za’atri. First of all, the Minister Delegation held a meeting with the camp coordinator Killian Kleinschmidt (UNHCR), Dominique Hyde, Director of UNICEF – Jordan and the director of WFP Jordan. Killian Kleinschmidt explained the situation of the camp, the very high maintenance costs (water, food, electricity etc.), problems of security, management difficulties. Dominique Hyde spoke about the high presence of children in the camp (they are around the 60% of the population in the camp) and about the work of the two UNICEF schools inside the camp. The director of WFP explained the distribution of food.
After this briefing the Minister met some Syrian refugee. Some of them are nurses who are working in the clinics – there are around 120 members of the Health Committee of the camp.
While the Minister was visiting part of the camp, a press conference has been organized with some journalist with the members of the Health Committee, in order to explain this important project with the local communities – FPSC is taking part of this mechanism, in coordination with other agencies who work in the disability sector. It was very interesting to listen these people who decided to stay in the camp, instead of going anywhere else in Jordan, so they can help the most needed people of their country.
After his tour around the camp, Mr García-Margallo wanted to meet the Spanish people that are working in Za’atri, including FPSC. The Minister was really interested in our work and it was a good opportunity to raise awareness about FPSC commitment and about the most urgent needs that the humanitarian agencies are facing in their daily work in the biggest refugee camp in the world.