Jordan builds third refugee camp

Jordan, home to tens of thousands of Syrians who have fled the conflict in their neighbouring country, plans to set up a third camp near the border for unmarried male refugees, an official said on Wednesday. “The government has allocated 100 dunums (10 hectares/24.7 acres) to receive 18,000 single refugees. Saudi Arabia will provide 1,800 tents,” Anmar Hmud, a government spokesman for Syrian refugee affairs, told state-run Petra news agency. “The camp will be set up near the University of Science and Technology in the northern governorate of Ramtha,” Hmud said without specifying a date. He said single Syrians will be moved from the Zaatari refugee camp, which is hosting more than 42,000 people, to the new location. “Single newcomers will also live in the new camp,” Hmud said. Jordanian authorities have said they wanted to isolate unmarried refugees, accusing them of creating trouble. Zaatari is in Mafraq province 85 kilometres (52.8 miles) north of Amman, not far from the border. Since it opened in July, Zaatari has seen several protests against poor living conditions, including a lack of electricity. Last month, the government announced plans to build a second camp by the end of this year in an area 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Amman, where officials say Jordan is hosting 230,000 Syrians — 100,000 of which are UN-registered.