Two Syrian refugees get married in Jordan’s Zaatari camp

Two Syrian refugees held their wedding at the Zaatari camp on Sunday (September 09).

Huthaifa Hareeri and Hanan Hareeri, from Deraa, have been betrothed for a year.

But as the conflict in Syria dragged on, their dream to be married was becoming more difficult.

“The situation there is bombardment, you know, the army attacks us. The bombardment has left us no space to get married. We came here,” said Huthaifa.

Syrian men and women performed traditional wedding songs and dance at the desert camp.

Huthaifa misses the presence at his wedding of some relatives still living in Syria.

“Well, our happiness is not complete, because I still have family in Syria. Some family members are here and some are there. It is not full happiness,” he said.

There are more than 27,000 Syrian refugees staying at the Zaatari camp, 80 kilometers north of the capital Amman.

Hot and dusty conditions and the camp's poorly-equipped public health facilities make it very difficult for some refugees to stay there.

Wijdan Ahmad, a Syrian refugee from Deraa, said he would prefer to return to Syria if he could.

“It is better to go back to Syria. Although we were under bombardment, it is better than here. At least there, we had water and good life. Thank God, we were happy: greenery, water, and shade except for bombardment. But here, we miss everything. Basic needs are not met. There is a shortage of everything,” Ahmed said.

The United Nations has said that more than 235,000 Syrian refugees have registered in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, while about 1.2 million people have been displaced within Syria.