Za’atari Refugee Camp – Jordan

Opened in 2012, the Za’atari camp in Jordan, located 10 km from Mafraq, is considered the largest camp for Syrians in the world and a symbol of their country’s unresolved crisis. A year after it opened, it already hosted 120,000 people. Since then, the temporary tents have been replaced by prefabricated shelters, and today, a decade since its opening, Za’atari, which is still home to 80,000 people, has developed a minimal infrastructure of roads, schools, health facilities and small refugee-run shops. Over 20,000 births have been registered within the camp in recent years, so that half of the resident population is represented by children, many of whom have never left Za’atari. Since Jordan is the second country in the world for water shortages, 30% of Za’atari households are faced with difficulties caused by the lack of this precious resource.

The participation of the Za’atari artists was managed by Mohamad Jokhadar, one of the best-known artists living and working in the camp. “While we were painting in the camp,” says Mohamad, “I realised that we were transforming it into an oasis of bright colours – they could indeed change the horizon of the people who live here.” Thanks to the support of Iraqi photographer Ali Arkady, the project boasts the participation of other Syrian artists who are currently abroad, mainly in Europe.