Stranded at The Berm

North and east of where we live in Jordan out in the desert in an area called "The Berm" an estimated 20,000 Syrians are trapped in the no man's land between Syria and Jordan.  The people living here are trying desperately to cross the border into Jordan, but are being prevented by Jordanian border guards from moving any further.  The concern is that the group may have been infiltrated by Isis.

The Berm is rocky area between two long earthen banks or berms 60 miles from the nearest road, village or any other infrastructure in northeastern Jordan.  The land is inhabited by scorpions, snakes, insects and wild animals.  The International Red Cross has sent water trucks and other aid, but access is very difficult.  The refugee group living there consists mostly of families, including hundreds of pregnant women.  Seventeen babies have been born at the site since mid-December.  There are no sanitation or medical facilities and the only water in the area is brackish.  The weather has been cold. 

These people aren't gypsies or Bedouins--they're ordinary citizens who have fled their homes for their lives, leaving everything behind.  They have nowhere else to go, so they went into the desert, hoping to cross the border into Jordan from this remote area.  The ones who make a run for it get shot and killed.

In the last few days, Jordan has begun processing the people living here and allowing them to cross. 

The Elderly and the sick go first..

Children

Portable scanners check everything carried across.

They don't have much to carry

 Everyone gets patted down for weapons...

It's being reported that 50 - 100 people are being admitted into Jordan per day.  At that rate, many will have a long wait. 

We're not sure, but we think they are going directly to the camps.  The camps aren't the ritz, but they do have food, shelter and medical care.

LDS Charities has been asked by International Medical Corps to contribute soap and shampoo for 12,000 hygiene kits.  We are helping to coordinate the effort.  It hardly seems like enough.