JORDAN / ZA'ATARI WATER

The Za’atari refugee camp in northern Jordan is a safe haven for almost 30,000 refugees who have fled conflict in Syria. But in one of the most arid countries in the world, providing drinking water for everyone is becoming an enormous challenge. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:39
• Production Date: 22 October 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: DISPLACED PERSONS; REFUGEES; WATER
• Geographic Subject: JORDAN; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: U121022e

Description

STORY: JORDAN / ZA’ATARI WATER
TRT: 2:39
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 9-10 OCTOBER. 2012, ZA'ATARI REFUGEE CAMP, JORDAN

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, tents in Za'atari
2. Med shot, children on homemade swings under tent annex
3. Close up, boy washing face drinking water
4. Wide shot, water truck filling tank
5. Close up, water hose filling tank
6. Close up, water truck crew member
7. Med shot, water truck crew member
8. Wide shot, Hala Abu Omar walking past tents
9. Med shot, inside tent of Hala speaking with children
10. Close up, water conservation poster
11. Med shot, Hala and family
12. Close up, child's face
13. Med shot, whole family listening to Hala inside tent
14. Close shot, bucket of water with steel mug inside
15. Close up, Hala panning down reveals buckets inside tent
16. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hala Abu Omar, Water and Hygiene Promoter, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED):
"This family is from Damascus and they've been here for two and a half months. They're very understanding, they have three children who I spoke to. I showed them our posters and they're very co-operative."
17. Wide shot, refugees outside UNHCR registration tent
18. Med shot, water truck passing
19. Tilt up, pipeline and bulldozer
20. Close up, water pipe connection point in Mafraq
21. Wide shot, water pipe connection point in Mafraq
22. SOUNDBITE (English), Saeed Hameed, UNICEF wash specialist:
"People living here will get double the amount of water, better pressure, more reliable. The work we are doing here will not only impact upon the Syrian refugees in the camp but also serve the people in the community."
23. Close up, Hala looking at map
24. Close up, fingers pointing at tents on map
25. Close up, acting coordinator
26. Med shot, Hala speaking with her colleague
27. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hala Abu Omar, Water and Hygiene Promoter, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED):
"I think my work is very important, simply because if you look around you, you will see tens of thousands of Syrians and I am trying to change some of their habits, like ways of using water. I also guide them in ways to help them with personal hygiene, to keep them healthy while they're in the camp."
28. Tracking shot, boy walking
29. Close up, boy drinking from water point
30. Med shot, mother and daughter washing blankets
31. Med shot, girl and boy carry a water bottle

Storyline

A refugee camp with the population and needs of a small city.

The Za'atari camp in northern Jordan is now a safe haven for more than thirty thousand Syrian refugees - and water is a vital need.

Every day trucks deliver one million litres of water to the camp.

But in one of the most arid countries in the world, providing drinking water for everyone is an enormous challenge.

That's why water and hygiene promoters like Hala Abu Omar are trying to reduce the camp's water consumption tent by tent.

Every day she and her colleagues from UNICEF's partner ACTED, the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, try to speak with as many refugees as they can.

Their message is straightforward - use water wisely and try to keep tents clean to prevent disease outbreaks - difficult tasks in a dry and dusty region.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hala Abu Omar, Water and Hygiene Promoter, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED):
"This family is from Damascus and they've been here for two and a half months. They're very understanding, they have three children who I spoke to. I showed them our posters and they're very co-operative."

Hundreds of Syrian refugees are arriving at Za'atari every day, but supplying water by truck is not a long lasting solution.

UNICEF and partner Mercy Corps are aiming to replace water trucks with water from two new boreholes they are drilling near the camp.

They're also improving water supply in towns surrounding Za'atari to benefit nearby residents.

SOUNDBITE (English), Saeed Hameed, UNICEF wash specialist:
"People living here will get double the amount of water, better pressure, more reliable. The work we are doing here will not only impact upon the Syrian refugees in the camp but also serve the people in the community."

Back at Za'atari, Hala pin-points exactly how many families she's reached and where more work needs to be done.

She's also getting to know the families she's responsible for better.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hala Abu Omar, Water and Hygiene Promoter, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED):
"I think my work is very important, simply because if you look around you, you will see tens of thousands of Syrians and I am trying to change some of their habits, like ways of using water. I also guide them in ways to help them with personal hygiene, to keep them healthy while they're in the camp."

No one knows how long the crisis in Syria will last.

Water from the new boreholes is expected to be up and running soon reducing reliance on water trucks.

Clean drinking water and proper hygiene and sanitation is vital for the health of every refugee in the Za'atari camp - and for other communities across northern Jordan.