World Vision is moving enough dirt to fill the Sydney Opera House concert hall three times as it spends World Refugee Day helping to build the biggest refugee camp in Jordan's desert.
As the world’s leaders met at the G8 and discussed how to respond to Syria, World Vision was helping turn a desert into shelter for some of the more than 1.6 million refugees who have fled escalating violence.
World Vision water and sanitation expert Rajesh Pasupuleti said building the camp was like putting in nearly 3000 bathrooms at the end of the world.
“We are digging 2600 holes, each deep enough to bury a family car. The desert soil we remove would fill the Albert Hall, or 33 Olympic sized swimming pools.”
Mr Pasupuleti said World Vision is also installing 12km of water pipes to supply the camp’s first 31,000 refugees using the system.
“Every week the 31,000 refugees will use enough water to fill two Olympic size swimming pools and the waste would fill another one. Even so, that is only 30 litres per person per day, which is barely enough in the searing desert,” Mr Pasupuleti said.
The construction of the Azraq refugee camp in Jordan will be the second built to cope with the estimated 2000 refugees a day arriving from Syria. The nearby Za’atari camp is full and its services are overwhelmed.
It is estimated that the Azraq camp will become home to 130,000 refugees by the end of the year, making it the fifth largest population centre in Jordan, 95km from the Syrian border.
World Refugee Day is a chance to remember the more than 15 million people around the world who are living as refugees and facing uncertain futures.
World Vision head of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Anthea Spinks said refugees often have to leave everything behind, and the numbers of people pouring out of Syria were no different.
"People are fleeing from violence, leaving behind homes, family, jobs, friends and schools. Half of those fleeing Syria are children, and all the refugees need protection, water, shelter, food and health services.
"World Refugee Day reminds us that all nations, including Australia, have obligations to care for people who can no longer live in their own countries. World Vision's work in Jordan is helping to fulfil part of that promise."
To donate to the Syrian Refugees Crisis Response call 13 32 40 or go to www.worldvision.com.au