In coordination with UNHCR and partners to mark the one year anniversary of Azraq camp opening, IOM hosted the first of three days of clown and magic shows for the children at the camp, funded by US Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (US PRM). 

IOM’s events are part of eight days of events organized by other agencies to mark the one year anniversary, including soccer games for refugees, Syrian music shows, and an open air cinema. IOM will also donate t-shirts for three children’s teams in the soccer tournament. 

On Thursday 30 April, Children watched a morning of magic shows, dancing and songs from Karkar, star of Arabs Got Talent. 

IOM Jordan has been present at Azraq camp since its establishment, transporting 38,000 refugees to the camp, over 20,000 of whom have been children. 

Currently, there are approximately 9,810 children in Azraq, forced to flee their homes in Syria because of the ongoing conflict. Azraq camp has one of the youngest populations of Syrians out of camps in Jordan, with over 20% of all refugees in the camp under 5. 

US PRM has been supporting IOM Jordan since 2012, when the Mission first started responding to the Syria crisis with transportation assistance for refugees arriving in Jordan.  As well as funding for transportation, US PRM contributions have been crucial in ensuring safe arrival to the camp and health in Jordan by through funding fit-to-travel assessments for refugees, various supplies for IOM teams, immunization campaigns, and reception services in three camps. 

IOM is grateful for the generosity of US PRM’s support since July 2012, and looks forward to continued cooperation in the future.