The EU and Germany are launching a new programme to support solid waste management in the refugee camps in Za’atari and Azraq in Jordan, as well as in neighbouring host communities.

This is a multi-donor programme with a contribution of €39 million from the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (EUTF Syria), and additional €6 million funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). BMZ has been funding solid waste management activities since 2015. The new programme allows for the continuation of the support to the Jordanian Government in collecting, sorting and processing waste and recyclables.

Oxfam runs two sorting facilities at Za’atari Refugee Camp, which were born out of a successful 2015 pilot project, commissioned by the EU and Germany. Solely by recycling cardboard, metal and plastic, a 10% reduction of solid waste in landfills was achieved. Similar activities are implemented by World Vision in Azraq camp, where around 70 tons of recyclables were collected during the lockdown from mid-March until the end of June.

Since its establishment in December 2014, a significant share of the EU’s support to help Syrian refugees and Syria’s neighbouring countries has been provided through the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis. The Trust Fund reinforces an integrated EU response to the crisis and primarily addresses longer-term resilience and needs to enhance the self-reliance of Syrian refugees. At the same time, it contributes to ease the pressure on host communities and the administrations in neighbouring countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

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Press release

EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis

Factsheet: EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis