The third Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, Azraq, was officially opened on 30 April. It has capacity of hosting up to 130 000 refugees. 

Finn Church Aid plans to start working with the young Syrians at the new camp and the host communities as soon as possible. Finn Church Aid is currently working with Syrian youth aged 15-24 in other two camps in Jordan; Za’atri and King Abdullah Park refugee camps.

“Ideally we should be able to offer same courses in Azraq as in Za’atri camp, that is, literacy, English, perhaps computer training, sports and recreational activities,” said Maurizio Mascia, humanitarian manager for Finn Church Aid in the Middle East. Mr Mascia estimates that the activities in Azraq could start as early as in May.

The war in Syria has been going on for three years now. The number of officially registered Syrian refugees in Jordan is 600 000, but according to the Jordanian government there are up to 1.2 million Syrians in Jordan.

Text: Terhi Kinnunen