Sharjah: In support of Syrian refugee children, the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and Knowledge Without Borders (KWB) is organising a field visit to the Emirati Jordanian Refugee Camp in Jordan.
The initiative is in support of the Big Heart Campaign launched by Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. Shaikha Jawaher is UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children to support Syrian refugee children.
The visit will include a range of activities, including the opening of a library with 3,000 books in the camp. Sharjah’s delegation will organise a series of entertaining and cultural activities and workshops for teachers and parents, along with reading sessions and handicraft workshops at the camp’s classrooms.
“Our aim is to extend cultural, psychological and emotional support to Syrian children refugees and their parents in the Emirati Jordanian Refugee Camp and to alleviate the suffering of Syrian refugees who fled their war-torn country,” said Marwa Obaid Al Aqroubi, President of (UAEBBY) Executive Board.
The visit is in line with the directives of Shaikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, UAEBBY Patron and Head of the Organising Committee of KWB, who believes that books and reading are as important as food and medicine, particularly in crisis and post-crisis periods.
Marwa said that the initiative will focus on how to leverage reading in restoring mental and psychological balance and creating positive stimulus for refugee children in the camp.
Shaikha Jawaher launched the Big Heart Campaign for Syrian Refugees on June 20, 2013, coinciding with UNHCR’s commemoration of World Refugee Day. The campaign aims at supporting Syrian refugee children affected by the crisis in Syria, alleviating their suffering, and maintaining their right to health care, education, a safe childhood, a better life and future.
Jordanian authorities announced last May that the number of Syrian refugees in the country exceeded 591,000 since the start of the unrest in Syria three years ago. More than a third of the refugees live in four refugee camps in Jordan. The largest camp is Zaatari in Mafraq governorate. Other camps are the Emirati Jordanian Refugee Camp in Alzarqa, Park Refugee Camp in Al Ramtha city in Irbid governorate, and Cyber City Refugee Camp in Irbid governorate.