Light Up Azraq in Jordan

April 2017

Project  summary

In 2016, Jordan hosted more than 721,000 refugees and asylum seekers with 52.626 Syrians newly registered. This put additional strain on Jordan, which is one of the smallest economies in the Middle East and suffers from poverty and high unemployment. People arriving as refugees have difficulty finding employment to pay for their daily needs such as electricity.

In partnership with Kopernik, HRF delivered 300 self-charging solar lights to the most vulnerable in the refugee camp Azraq, Jordan. In addition to providing light, the solar lights can be used to charge portable electronic devices, including smartphones. This helped to reduce the beneficiaries’ electricity costs and at the same time allow refugees to stay connected with their family and friends.

CASE STUDIES

Finding a reliable, flexible and affordable source of electricity for refugees has had dramatic implications on their living situation in the camps.

Ibrahim Helal Aluqlah, head of the family, unemployed, a Syrian refugee in Azraq Camp

“My family and I live in Unit 2, which is unelectrified. The solar light has been very useful to move around at night, especially when we need to go to the bathroom. They are also handy when we move around at night. It also helps us to stay in touch with our families and friends as we can charge our mobile phones with it.”

Alyah Ahmed Alahmed, housewife, unemployed, a Syrian refugee in Azraq Camp

“It is quite easy to use the solar light; and it’s very useful too. It provides much needed light at night, because we live in a remote, unelectrified camp located in the desert. There are a plenty of insects and harmful creatures and the solar light helps us see and avoid them.”

Ahmed Ibraheem Younis, unemployed, a Syrian refugee in Azraq Camp

“Since we arrived at the unelectrified camp unit, we have had no choice but to buy bottles of gas for lighting. This is a burden to us as it requires us to spend extra money, and using gas makes the inside of our shelter very hot, especially at night. This solar light is very economical, lightweight, and easy to charge.”