Designing refugees’ camps: temporary emergency solutions, or contemporary paradigms of incomplete urban citizenship? Insights from Al Za’atari

City, Territory and Architecture

An interdisciplinary debate on project perspectives

Table 1 The Al Za’atari by numbers and livelihoods (UNHCR 2020a)

Overview of the Al Za’atari	Estimated number
Number of Syrian refugees	120,000 Syrian–now 76,688
Area of the Al Za’atari	530 Hectares
Number of caravans	over 26,000
Number of tents	8000
Percentage of refugees from Dara	80%
Shops	over 3500
Other shops	680 shops that engage children
Community center	58
Three water wells	Capacity of each 3600 m³
Active work permits	13,773
Weekly wealth consultations	9001
Number of babies born per month	+20% in the last 5 years
Number of schools	32
Illegal electricity wires	300 km
Cost of electricity per day	16,130 USD