| The Collateral Repair Project in affiliation with the International Humanities Center Amman Reports # 1 CRP North American team members, Sasha and Mary, report on the Iraqi refugee crisis from Amman, Jordan (click on thumbnails of photos for larger view) |
Even from the vista of the airplane it is impossible to see where the city starts or ends. We arrive at
dusk, viewing a sand-toned metropolis sprawled over steep hills and cliffs reaching beyond even a
bird’s eye view. In less than 130 years Amman has sprung from a backwater village of 2,000 to the
metropolis of 1.7 million it is today. Beginning in 1948 it has seen a major influx of refugees from
Palestine, and now more than 750,000 refugees from Iraq have sought refuge in the country, many
settling in Amman. The strain on the nation’s infrastructure is clearly visible everywhere.
Collateral Repair Project comes to Amman to assess the scope of the problem and to document the
plight of the Iraqi refugees, which is inherently compounded by the overall strained economic
conditions of the state of Jordan. The two are irrevocably interlinked. Burdened by underemployed,
lack of water and other natural resources and faced now with a second large wave of refugees,
Jordan has little capability of handling the critical mass confronting it.
It is the hope of the CRP to bring the scope of this catastrophe to the attention of the West.
It is a long taxi ride into the city from the airport, through the maze and chaos of streets without
marked lanes and drivers maneuvering at breakneck speed, without a hint of fear. It will be nearly a
week before we master the technique of crossing a street with something resembling courage.
We spend our first few days prowling the lanes and souqs of downtown, while waiting for out Iraqi
counterpart, Faiza Alaraji, to return from a women’s conference in Italy. Mastering the maze of
streets and passageways while maintaining one’s sense of direction will be challenge. Buildings
appear carved into the sheer cliffs, or perched on the precarious edges. The city is fast paced,
noisy, dusty and crowded with shoppers. We soon learn that it is impossible to walk one block
without encountering stairs or a steep incline to be managed. The most impressive and illustrative
view of the breadth of the city is from atop the Citadel, an ancient Roman/Byzantine ruin. From here
one has a 360 degree view of Amman – hill after hill stretching beyond sight in all directions. One
hears the calls to prayer drifting up from the city below, from all directions, from close by to far in the
distance. But somehow the noise of the city, which is so cacophonous and impossible to escape
below, doesn’t reach this height.
dusk, viewing a sand-toned metropolis sprawled over steep hills and cliffs reaching beyond even a
bird’s eye view. In less than 130 years Amman has sprung from a backwater village of 2,000 to the
metropolis of 1.7 million it is today. Beginning in 1948 it has seen a major influx of refugees from
Palestine, and now more than 750,000 refugees from Iraq have sought refuge in the country, many
settling in Amman. The strain on the nation’s infrastructure is clearly visible everywhere.
Collateral Repair Project comes to Amman to assess the scope of the problem and to document the
plight of the Iraqi refugees, which is inherently compounded by the overall strained economic
conditions of the state of Jordan. The two are irrevocably interlinked. Burdened by underemployed,
lack of water and other natural resources and faced now with a second large wave of refugees,
Jordan has little capability of handling the critical mass confronting it.
It is the hope of the CRP to bring the scope of this catastrophe to the attention of the West.
It is a long taxi ride into the city from the airport, through the maze and chaos of streets without
marked lanes and drivers maneuvering at breakneck speed, without a hint of fear. It will be nearly a
week before we master the technique of crossing a street with something resembling courage.
We spend our first few days prowling the lanes and souqs of downtown, while waiting for out Iraqi
counterpart, Faiza Alaraji, to return from a women’s conference in Italy. Mastering the maze of
streets and passageways while maintaining one’s sense of direction will be challenge. Buildings
appear carved into the sheer cliffs, or perched on the precarious edges. The city is fast paced,
noisy, dusty and crowded with shoppers. We soon learn that it is impossible to walk one block
without encountering stairs or a steep incline to be managed. The most impressive and illustrative
view of the breadth of the city is from atop the Citadel, an ancient Roman/Byzantine ruin. From here
one has a 360 degree view of Amman – hill after hill stretching beyond sight in all directions. One
hears the calls to prayer drifting up from the city below, from all directions, from close by to far in the
distance. But somehow the noise of the city, which is so cacophonous and impossible to escape
below, doesn’t reach this height.
Our first meeting with Faiza is at a coffee shop where she introduces us to Sheik
Suhail, a 68 yr old blind refugee whose wife and daughters were with him in Amman, returned to Iraq
for a visit and were denied re-entry when they attempted to rejoin him. His many pleas to the
Jordanian government to let his family join him again because of his circumstances are unheeded.
Through the compassion of a family in Vancouver BC, Sheik Suhail's rent is paid each month. He is
extremely grateful and said, as we hear over and over again from others, that the people of the west
are different than the US Bush government.
Suhail, a 68 yr old blind refugee whose wife and daughters were with him in Amman, returned to Iraq
for a visit and were denied re-entry when they attempted to rejoin him. His many pleas to the
Jordanian government to let his family join him again because of his circumstances are unheeded.
Through the compassion of a family in Vancouver BC, Sheik Suhail's rent is paid each month. He is
extremely grateful and said, as we hear over and over again from others, that the people of the west
are different than the US Bush government.
We then set out to meet up with 3 of the families that CRP has funded. We go first to the home of Um Abbas, mother of 5
children: Abbas, 15; Mohammed, 14; 9 yr old Tebba; 5 yr old Sajjab and Hissain, age 3. Abbas is in the hospital at the time
of our visit suffering from an intestinal infection.
We pass out the gifts we have brought for the children and take many photos of them. One of Um Abbas’s projects is bead
embroidery on scarves which she sells.
She also bakes and sells bread and has prepared bread dough in order to show us how she makes the bread in the large
oven purchased through CRP funds. She spreads a mound of dough over a round object, then slaps the dough onto to side
of the deep oven. The dough sticks to the side and is extracted after a few minutes, hot and crisp and delicious. We leave
with bags of fresh, home made bread.
children: Abbas, 15; Mohammed, 14; 9 yr old Tebba; 5 yr old Sajjab and Hissain, age 3. Abbas is in the hospital at the time
of our visit suffering from an intestinal infection.
We pass out the gifts we have brought for the children and take many photos of them. One of Um Abbas’s projects is bead
embroidery on scarves which she sells.
She also bakes and sells bread and has prepared bread dough in order to show us how she makes the bread in the large
oven purchased through CRP funds. She spreads a mound of dough over a round object, then slaps the dough onto to side
of the deep oven. The dough sticks to the side and is extracted after a few minutes, hot and crisp and delicious. We leave
with bags of fresh, home made bread.
Then we went to the home of Um Luay, whose three handicapped daughters are working on beading and embroidery as
part of the Women’s Craft Co-operative. Faiza tells us how the project has changed their lives and given them hope.
The daughters are all confined to wheel-chairs due to a degenerative disease. Their ages are 28, 30 and 32. Their tiny
home is filled by the three daughters, their wheel chairs, and their craftwork. The women do traditional embroidery on
plastic rice sacks and bead work necklaces and cell phone bangles. They crochet baby and children’s slippers. Um Luay
supports the family by making pickles which she sells to restaurants and neighbors. The equipment and supplies to start
up her pickling business were purchased with contributions from donors to the Collateral Repair Project. Um Luay is solely
responsible for providing for all the physical needs of the 3 daughters. She and her daughters retain an incredible humor
and warm spirits in spite of their dire conditions.
part of the Women’s Craft Co-operative. Faiza tells us how the project has changed their lives and given them hope.
The daughters are all confined to wheel-chairs due to a degenerative disease. Their ages are 28, 30 and 32. Their tiny
home is filled by the three daughters, their wheel chairs, and their craftwork. The women do traditional embroidery on
plastic rice sacks and bead work necklaces and cell phone bangles. They crochet baby and children’s slippers. Um Luay
supports the family by making pickles which she sells to restaurants and neighbors. The equipment and supplies to start
up her pickling business were purchased with contributions from donors to the Collateral Repair Project. Um Luay is solely
responsible for providing for all the physical needs of the 3 daughters. She and her daughters retain an incredible humor
and warm spirits in spite of their dire conditions.
Um Mohammed’s family, the third family we visit this day, lives in a small apartment which
must be reached by descending 84 steps. She has 5 children, including a set of triplets.
The triplets, 2 boys -- Mustaffa and Ibrahim and a girl, Tohama are age 6. Muhammed is
11 and Ali, 10. Two of the triplets have medical problems; Tohama has kidney disease
and Ibrahim has no expressive language and is hyperactive. Because of his problem no
school has accepted him. The father is only able to work intermittently as a day laborer,
and is often gone from the home from early morning to late evening.
This family lives in extreme poverty. They have one chair, a makeshift table, and a
large bed. CARITAS provided them with a few foam rubber mats to sleep on. They all
sleep in one room. In winter the bedroom must double as the living room because they
can’t afford to heat the living room. The walls of the bedroom and kitchen are covered in
black mold.
must be reached by descending 84 steps. She has 5 children, including a set of triplets.
The triplets, 2 boys -- Mustaffa and Ibrahim and a girl, Tohama are age 6. Muhammed is
11 and Ali, 10. Two of the triplets have medical problems; Tohama has kidney disease
and Ibrahim has no expressive language and is hyperactive. Because of his problem no
school has accepted him. The father is only able to work intermittently as a day laborer,
and is often gone from the home from early morning to late evening.
This family lives in extreme poverty. They have one chair, a makeshift table, and a
large bed. CARITAS provided them with a few foam rubber mats to sleep on. They all
sleep in one room. In winter the bedroom must double as the living room because they
can’t afford to heat the living room. The walls of the bedroom and kitchen are covered in
black mold.
In Iraq, Um Mohammed taught sewing to deaf and mute adults. CRP donors
funded a sewing machine for her to earn money at home. Because of the
84 stairs, the machine could not be brought to the apartment, so it is in a
shop at street level. Since Um Mohammed must tend to Ibrahim all day, it is
difficult for her to find time or opportunity to go to the shop where her
sewing machine is and where she can work. For this reason we are
researching the possibility of finding a school that accepts special needs
children, so far with no luck
funded a sewing machine for her to earn money at home. Because of the
84 stairs, the machine could not be brought to the apartment, so it is in a
shop at street level. Since Um Mohammed must tend to Ibrahim all day, it is
difficult for her to find time or opportunity to go to the shop where her
sewing machine is and where she can work. For this reason we are
researching the possibility of finding a school that accepts special needs
children, so far with no luck
The following day we visited Um Ali, mother of 3: Ayat, age 12 ½, Ali, age 10 and
Zain, age 5. The two older children suffer from a disease known as Mediterranean
Anemia, which requires special medication costing $1,000 a month. Through an
article written on the family by an Italian journalist, a wealthy Iraqi has stepped
forward as a donor to pay for the medication. Prior to this stroke of luck, the children
were treated by a slow injection that Um Ali would administer each night. This
process took 8 hours and she stayed awake during the entire procedure.
Um Ali tells us that since they began the medication their memories have improved
dramatically as has their energy level and over all health and resistance. But the
daughter still requires a bone marrow transplant. An Italian hospital has offered to
do the transplant but they have to find a way to pay for the year in Italy that will be
needed for follow-up treatment.
Um Ali works in their home as a hair dresser, with equipment provided through
donors to CRP. Her husband is a mechanic and is employed. In Iraq he owned his
own shop.
Zain, age 5. The two older children suffer from a disease known as Mediterranean
Anemia, which requires special medication costing $1,000 a month. Through an
article written on the family by an Italian journalist, a wealthy Iraqi has stepped
forward as a donor to pay for the medication. Prior to this stroke of luck, the children
were treated by a slow injection that Um Ali would administer each night. This
process took 8 hours and she stayed awake during the entire procedure.
Um Ali tells us that since they began the medication their memories have improved
dramatically as has their energy level and over all health and resistance. But the
daughter still requires a bone marrow transplant. An Italian hospital has offered to
do the transplant but they have to find a way to pay for the year in Italy that will be
needed for follow-up treatment.
Um Ali works in their home as a hair dresser, with equipment provided through
donors to CRP. Her husband is a mechanic and is employed. In Iraq he owned his
own shop.
Wednesday, Sasha met with a group of doctors from Iraq who are here for a conference and training in mental
health care for their medical patients suffering from war traumas. They came to Amann from Baghdad, Falluja,
Al Qaim in addition to other areas of Iraq.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health recently gave them new diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, which is still sitting
in crates because they lack the critical training in the use of the equipment. They requested that we find
doctors skilled in these technologies to come to Amman to train them in February when they will return to
Amman for an unrelated training session. We are contacting people in the medical field to volunteer to assist
in the training or facilitate locating qualified people in these fields. If you are a medical professional and
interested in participating in or assisting with this critical project in any way, please contact us for more
information.
health care for their medical patients suffering from war traumas. They came to Amann from Baghdad, Falluja,
Al Qaim in addition to other areas of Iraq.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health recently gave them new diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, which is still sitting
in crates because they lack the critical training in the use of the equipment. They requested that we find
doctors skilled in these technologies to come to Amman to train them in February when they will return to
Amman for an unrelated training session. We are contacting people in the medical field to volunteer to assist
in the training or facilitate locating qualified people in these fields. If you are a medical professional and
interested in participating in or assisting with this critical project in any way, please contact us for more
information.
And finally, on Thursday November 8th, we visited a project of a Catholic organization, Caritas called EVI,
(Extremely Vulnerable Individuals) The project was instituted in 2002 to provide assistance to the most
needy Iraqis. They are also required to include 20% of vulnerable Jordanian families. EVI receives $1 million
from the U.S. State department to meet these needs. By contrast, the U.S. government has just requested
1.5 billion dollars to fund security in the Green Zone in Baghdad.
An average of 75 persons a day comes into their office seeking assistance. This incredible workload is
shared by only 8 caseworkers, who then make one follow-up home visit after the initial interview. Because of
the overwhelming needs with which they are confronted, and severe under-funding, EVI has limits on how
much assistance they can provide each family or individual that comes through their doors. For example,
124 Jordanian dinars provides a one time only family package for household items and personal needs,
including physical aids and assistance is one time, They also limit themselves to assisting only the those
who have been in Jordan longer than 3 months, the time it takes for residency permits to expire. This
organization is clearly working against all odds to meet the needs of a humanitarian crisis and it is clear
example of the overwhelming lack of resources to meet even the most minimal of critical needs.
(Extremely Vulnerable Individuals) The project was instituted in 2002 to provide assistance to the most
needy Iraqis. They are also required to include 20% of vulnerable Jordanian families. EVI receives $1 million
from the U.S. State department to meet these needs. By contrast, the U.S. government has just requested
1.5 billion dollars to fund security in the Green Zone in Baghdad.
An average of 75 persons a day comes into their office seeking assistance. This incredible workload is
shared by only 8 caseworkers, who then make one follow-up home visit after the initial interview. Because of
the overwhelming needs with which they are confronted, and severe under-funding, EVI has limits on how
much assistance they can provide each family or individual that comes through their doors. For example,
124 Jordanian dinars provides a one time only family package for household items and personal needs,
including physical aids and assistance is one time, They also limit themselves to assisting only the those
who have been in Jordan longer than 3 months, the time it takes for residency permits to expire. This
organization is clearly working against all odds to meet the needs of a humanitarian crisis and it is clear
example of the overwhelming lack of resources to meet even the most minimal of critical needs.
In the coming week we will be visiting many more families, including new families who hope to be funded for
micro-projects through the Collateral Repair Project. We will be meeting with more representatives of other
organizations in the attempt to assess what is being done and what needs are not being addressed. We
hope to establish a network of resources and to introduce the CRP to other projects and agencies providing
Iraqi refugee assistance.
micro-projects through the Collateral Repair Project. We will be meeting with more representatives of other
organizations in the attempt to assess what is being done and what needs are not being addressed. We
hope to establish a network of resources and to introduce the CRP to other projects and agencies providing
Iraqi refugee assistance.
Our family visits so far have been both heart-warming and heart-rending. All of the people have expressed that they clearly differentiate between
Americans and the American government, that they believe Americans are good and generous people. All have been genuinely thankful for what
small assistance they have received from people like you. Their spirits belie their circumstances and are demonstrative of their incredible generosity
and resilience. To meet with them is an experience we wish all of you could participate in.
Americans and the American government, that they believe Americans are good and generous people. All have been genuinely thankful for what
small assistance they have received from people like you. Their spirits belie their circumstances and are demonstrative of their incredible generosity
and resilience. To meet with them is an experience we wish all of you could participate in.