BAHRAIN has extended a lifeline to thousands of Syrian refugees battling the cold weather in Jordan, including in the largest shelter for the displaced, the Al Zaatari camp.
It follows directives from His Majesty King Hamad, who is also Honorary President of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF).
The RHF will provide urgent relief aid that will cover the needs of more than 100,000 refugees during the winter months from January to June this year.
RHF secretary-general Dr Mustafa Al Sayed met the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Amman and signed an agreement in this regard.
“The RHF continues to work to support Syrian refugees through different aid projects and the latest relief measures aim to protect them from the harsh winters,” said Dr Al Sayed.
Millions of Syrians have fled the country following the civil war that broke out in 2011 and many of them have taken shelter in refugee camps across Jordan.
“We conducted a detailed study with the help of the UN agency to understand the needs of refugees during the winter months from January until June,” Mr Al Sayed said.
“More than 100,000 people will be covered by the royal aid, which includes those living in Al Zaatari camp, and the rest elsewhere or in nearby camps.
“A total of 253 families comprising more than 1,000 people will receive cash aid over the next six months through the UNHCR’s assistance programme and it will help cover their rents, bills and expenses for groceries and medicines.
“Cash assistance will also be provided to about 20,000 Syrian refugee families in Zaatari camp, to cover their cooking gas expenses from January to June this year.”
Dr Al Sayed said the relief operation will be overseen by His Majesty’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and RHF board chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Meanwhile, UNHCR senior adviser and GCC representative Khalid Khalifa praised Bahrain for playing a pioneering role in supporting Syrian refugees.
“We are grateful for the trust and partnership with the foundation, represented by Shaikh Nasser, as this generous contribution comes at the right time, and we hope it will help tackle some of the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” added Mr Khalifa.
He praised Bahrain’s stances towards refugees, noting that it was among the first countries to have assisted them by building schools and houses, as well as providing water resources in many countries, without distinction based on gender, religion or nationality.
“The international community appreciates Bahrain’s outstanding role in providing relief aid to ensure social and economic stability in countries affected by conflicts and natural disasters,” he added.
Last month a snowstorm in the Middle East, dubbed Hiba, left many Lebanese and Syrians scrambling to find ways to survive, burning old clothes and plastic to keep warm.
There are about 655,000 UN-registered Syrian refugees in Jordan.
The hardships facing the refugees in Jordan have been highlighted over several years and the kingdom’s efforts to help have been appreciated and continue to make a difference.
The GDN reported in 2019 that the RHF has spent millions of dinars on several schemes. It had set up the Bahrain Scientific Complex at Al Zaatari camp, which consists of four schools serving 5,000 students, and the Bahrain Residential Complex, which comprises 500 housing cabins for 3,000 people.
Several students at the Bahrain School for Syrian Refugees in Zaatari refugee camp had secured top academic scores at the national level. The school, part of Bahrain Academic Complex which opened in 2012, was the first in the camp which sat its first group of students this year at the national secondary level examinations.
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