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In her latest humanitarian trip to Jordan, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi UNHCR Eminent Advocate and Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah has met women and children from the refugee camps of Zaatri to provide a sympathetic ear and hear first-hand what their biggest needs are. The consultations gathered feedback on how the refugees’ living conditions can be improved through better shelters, sanitation and medical access. Education took center stage, as Her Highness was particularly keen to find out how many more schools, teachers and books are needed.
The visit comes soon after the launch of the Education phase of the Big Heart Campaign, as the focus shifts from short-term humanitarian needs like food to long-term needs like education and empowerment.
Speaking just after meetingrefugee students, mothers and teachers at a school in Zaatri, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaherexplained the importance of the trip: “The most important thing is not what we tell refugees, but what they tell us. Nobody understands the crisis better than them because to them it’s not just a news headline or statistic, it’s their everyday life. I had a heart-to-heart talk about the women’s hopes and fears, andI asked the childrenabout their career dreams. But I have realized that it’s impossible for childrento concentrate in school if they are hungry, ill, cold or traumatized. So by improving their home life we will also improve their school life. I have been greatly touched by the brave women I have met, who sacrifice everything because they wanttheir children to be judged not by their refugee status, but by their achievements in life.”
The efforts of Her Highness and the UNHCR have helped to bring several diplomats and leaders on visits to Syrian refugee camps across the region. 9.5 million Syrians have fled their homes and 2.5 million of these have been registered as refugees by the UNHCR across the region.Tragically, over 150,000 have lost their lives since March 2011, and the death toll is set to rise following renewed air strikes.
Donors are urgently requested to send funds through ‘Salam YaSeghar’, endorsed by HH Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi (Wife of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah and UNHCR Eminent Advocate).
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