Winter preparations in Zaatari village - Photography

Winter in Jordan can be harsh. Buildings are badly insulated and have no central heating; gas and electrical heaters are the only source of heat. Many Syrian refugees living in 'host communities' - amongst the Jordanian population in towns and villages - have neither of these. Many of the Syrian refugees in Zaatari village, not far from the Zaatari refugee camp, live in caravans or tents which provide little shelter from wind or rain. Before Dar al Yasmin (DAY), a small NGO founded by expats living in Amman, happened upon the village, the refugees weren't even registered with the UN High Commission for Refugees. This means they received no aid or assistance whatsoever. Since helping them with their registration, DAY's helpers drive to Zaatari village almost daily to help where they can: for some families they were able to buy caravans to get them out of their feeble tents. Often they put on children's events, to add a splash of colour to otherwise difficult and often mundane lives.

In preparation for winter, DAY distributed jackets and abayas - traditional female garments - in the community centre in Zaatari village. The arrival of an NGO in the town created a stir that almost overwhelmed the helpers of DAY, but local Jordanians that are active in the community and run the centre helped out.

The winter jackets came just in time. Merely a week later, the Middle East was hit by a snowstorm that covered Egypt's pyramids as well as large parts of Jordan.

Here are some photos of the day: