Crisis: Zaatari Camp
*This article is a simulation crisis, not a real world event*
Amman — In the past week, the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan has devolved into chaos. On Friday (Feb. 1), a massive fire broke out in the camp, resulting in the death of 103 refugees, including 26 children, and wounding many more. Exacerbated by a recent drought in the region, the fire raged for 8 hours before it was extinguished. Although the source of the fire is unknown, it damaged a significant portion of the infrastructure in the camp. The camp has its own fire prevention tools and fire fighters, but they were ill-equipped to deal with the crisis, resulting in the prolonged blaze.
Zaatari, one of the largest refugee camps in the region is primarily inhabited by refugees fleeing from the Syrian Civil War and Iraqi Civil War. It houses roughly 75,000 refugees. Although there is basic infrastructure in the camp, it is intended for short-term inhabitation and has already been stretched to its limits. The fire displaced a huge portion of inhabitants. Nearby Jordanian cities refused additional aid and refugees are unable to leave the camps en masse.
In the past couple days, the situation devolved further as riots broke out in the south-west corner of the camp. The Jordanian government, concerned about the stability of the camp and the likelihood it would boil over into neighboring cities, deployed a small contingent of troops to the camp to contain the situation. The troops forcibly restrained rioters and were widely accused of excess force, leading to growing resentment between camp inhabitants and the government.
Although riots have stopped in the camp, looting and theft rates have risen sharply in the past week and the Jordanian troops remain on alert around the camp, even as resentment towards them grows.
The situation is being actively monitored by international human rights groups, some of which have decried the living conditions faced in the camp, particularly following the fire. Some groups have been restricted in their access to the camp and ability to bring in aid to the inhabitants. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the Jordanian government to help rebuild the camp and allow for international aid groups to have full access to the area.
The situation is ongoing and being actively monitored.
Hello fellow policy makers. My name is Boris Johnson and I am one of the members attending this committee. Given the urgency and ongoing impact of this crisis, it must be addressed as quickly and as efficiently as possible. In order to resolve this crisis, the displaced refugees must find a place to settle temporarily while the Zaatari Camp is being rebuilt. I propose that the neighboring countries of Jordan including Saudi Arabia and Israel temporarily take a portion of the displaced refugees. Additionally, rather than sending Jordanian troops, UN peacekeepers should be sent to the Zaatari Camp and neighboring areas in order to prevent excessive violence and theft from breaking out. As a long term-solution, when the camp is being rebuilt through support by NGOs and the UN, it should be equipped to deal with things such as fires in order to prevent this crisis again. Additionally, more refugee camps along the Jordanian border should be developed as in order to prevent such large numbers of people from being affected. I encourage discussion from others and alternate ideas on how to resolve this crisis.
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