Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan, 10 April 2013

WFP is providing food assistance to Syrian refugees in camps, transit centres and for families staying with host communities throughout Jordan. During the month of October, WFP transitioned from the provision of hot meals in Zaatari refugee camp in Mafraq Governorate and King Abdullah Park transit centre in Ramtha Governorate to the distribution of dry rations that the refugees can cook themselves. The monthly food basket includes rice, bulgur wheat, pulses (yellow split peas), sugar and salt in addition to a daily bread distribution to the refugees. The camp currently houses some 20,000 Syrian refugees (though this figure changes daily given the arrivals and departures) of which 75 percent are women and children. UNHCR and WFP have set up over 100 communal kitchens around the camp to allow the refugees to prepare their own meals from WFP food basket as per their local taste. This will also diversify the food consumption. 100 more kitchens are still under preparation. WFP continues to provide welcome food packets to new arrivals in Zaatari refugee camp, many of whom have made a long and risky journey to the Jordanian border.

Elsewhere in the country, WFP is assisting Syrians living in host communities and plans to reach 250,000 by the end of the year through food vouchers or distributions of food baskets. The conflict in Syria has hit food prices in Jordan. Food exports from Syria have been disrupted and this, together with poor harvests this year in Jordan due to an especially dry and hot summer, have led to a steep increase in vegetable prices. The Jordanian Department of Statistics have recently cited a 32 percent increase in vegetable prices this July as compared to 2011.

Photo: WFP/Dina El-Kassaby