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In Search of Warmth: Syrians Journey to the Jordan Valley to Escape Winter
When we first arrived from Syria we settled in the desert.
We remained there for a few months and then came to the Jordan valley.
We moved for the sake of the children and the warmth that can be found in the Jordan Valley compared to the desert
When we arrived to the Jordan valley we had no idea it would rain.
On the 8th of December at around 4:30,
we were called to rescue a group of people who had been surrounded by floods
When we arrived to the location, we found that the flooded area was an area occupied by six Syrian families
The Civil Defense arrived and rescued us from the floods,
but our tents remained there. It took us about ten days to get them out
There is a young man whose tent was completely destroyed,
and a few other people in an area near by whose tents were also destroyed.
They had to leave this area and rent new houses for shelter.
All our things were destroyed in the water, there is nothing left
Our clothes and mattresses are all ruined, we have nothing left.
Most of the children here became ill as a result of what happened.
Most of us got sick because of the floods.
The reason for the flooding and the damage that was caused to our fellow Syrians
occurred because a farmer decided to close the valley in order to pave a road that would allow cars to pass in the area
which resulted in the water flowing directly into the tents.
about 3500 Syrians live in tents in the Jordan Valley.
We bought these tents. Some received the tents when they resided in the camps and took them alone when they decided to leave.
Others bought these tents for an amount of JD 60-70.
Those who have a heater use it to keep warm, while those who do not have one light fires.
We buy electricity from the residents of the area.
When the Civil defense arrived,
they wanted us to evacuate the premises and informed us that we were in danger.
However, we all preferred to remain together as one family since many of us are cousins.
When we explained our situation to the officers of the Civil Defense,
they allowed us to remain in the area and constructed a dam that would collect the water if it does rain again.