Winter Brings Misery to Syrian Refugees

(Vatican Radio) The Syrian refugee situation has seen a dramatic turn as severe weather conditions hit the refugee camps around the area. UNICEF and its partners are working around the clock to help Syrian refugees affected by the bitter weather in the Za'atari camp in Jordan.

The heavy rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures in northern Jordan have greatly worsened the situation of children among the 55,000 refugees at the camp.

Despite the winter preparations done in recent months, many refugees are facing particularly cold and damp conditions, with people fleeing Syria are still arriving in neighboring States in droves.

UNICEF has distributed emergency warm clothing along with sleeping mats to replace mattresses soaked by the rain.

More than 280,000 Syrians who fled to Jordan since the uprising against President Bashar Assad broke out in March 2011. As the fighting has increased in recent weeks, the number of displaced has risen.

The total number of registered refugees and individuals awaiting registration is 612,847 as of 10 January. This includes 5,059 Syrian refugees registered in North Africa.

Listen to Nathan Morley's report: