* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Over the past 16 months, peaceful demonstrations against the Syrian regime have grown into a full blown conflict affecting almost all of Syria, killing thousands, wounding an unknown number and displacing hundreds of thousands.
According to UNHCR, by 20 July the U.N. agency has registered over 113,000 Syrians who had crossed into neighbouring countries; almost 33,000 of them are in Jordan.
Jordan has been welcoming and international aid contributes to the support offered by host communities.
A child's drawing in the Bashabsheh transit centre's child friendly space, Jordan, June 2012. ECHO/D. Baslan 2012
The government of Jordan estimates that number of refugees in the kingdom at 130,000. UNHCR/Ivan Bartolini 2012
In the past weeks, Syrians have crossed the border between Syria and Jordan in a steady flow of 400-500 people a day, many of them women and children. UNHCR/Ivan Bartolini 2012
Their first stop in Jordan is often the impoverished northern town of Ramtha, where they can register voluntarily with the UN's refugee agency.
Those who do not get bailed out are then transferred to transit camp-like sites such as the ‘Cyber City’, ‘King Abdullah Park’ and the sports stadium in the north.
Cyber City is an industrial compound set up in a free zone. A 6-storey building, initially destined for migrant workers and left vacant for the past four years, is now hosting 400 people. Works to improve the living conditions are on-going. UNHCR
Food distributions take place regularly; a clinic has been set up by the Jordan Health Aid Society just 50 meters away.
ECHO supports UNHCR's registration activities as well as the distribution of food and basic household items.
For the refugees in Jordan, ECHO’s new funding decision will focus on health and psychosocial support for children and adults, water and sanitation in the camps and host communities, distribution of non-food items and food, as well as cash assistance.
The assistance will enable refugees’ families to cover basic expenses for rent, food, water and medical care. ECHO/H. Veit, July 2012
