Our final statistics from the trip.....we saw 799 patients. In the six days we had clinics, we treated 799 patients! That's amazing. That is about 75 more people than last year and we had one less provider. It helps that this was our second year, everyone was more organized and we had a better idea of how to set up and manage the flow.
This is only a drop in the bucket compared to the needs. Since our trip last year I've been paying more attention to the events impacting the refugees, especially in Jordan. The Syrian crisis is the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era. According to the UNHCR in Jordan, as of February 2015, over 622,000 Syrians had registered with them. Some refugees live in the camps and about half a million live in host communities. As of 2012, over 150,000 people lived in one of the camps. Since then two other camps have been opened. In both living arrangements, the conditions are rough.
The UN's report titled "Living in the Shadows" is based on home visits to the refugees living outside the camps in 2014. Almost half of the households researchers visited had no heating and a quarter had unreliable electricity.Rental costs accounted for more than half of households expenditures and many families shared accommodations to keep the expenses low.
In addition to the Syrian refugees, Iraqi refugees have been entering Jordan since 2003. This number has increased over the last few months as more and more people are fleeing Iraq. According a study conducted by the UN, one in six of the refugees live in extreme poverty.
I know to the people we saw, what we did made a difference. I know our hosts appreciated our help and our visit seemed to encourage them. I am grateful for Jordan and the other countries that have kept their borders open and have allowed the refugees to enter. I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to leave you house, your job and/or school and walk away with only what you can carry. I saw in the eyes of the people we treated what a toll that takes on your heart, your soul and your physical well-being. I am thankful for our hosts and their commitment to help the refugees. I truly saw that the workers are few and the needs are great.
...................until next year, when Lord willing we can return and help some more.
