CAMP SITE; SNOW; REFUGEES; COLLAPSED TENTS; REFUGEES CLEARING TENTS; COLLAPSED ALUMINUM HOUSES; RESTITUTION WORK; BOYS PLAYING SNOW-BALLS.




Initials NAC/VS/JF/PF



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FOUR HUNDRED ARAB REFUGEE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN MADE HOMELESS BY A FREAK SNOWSTORM WHICH SWEPT JORDAN ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE FAMILIES, FROM AL BAKAA CAMP, ABOUT 20 K.M. (12 MILES) NORTH-WEST OF AMMAN, HAVE BEEN EVACUATED TO NEW HOUSING UNITS.

CROWN-PRINCE HASSAN, AND SEVERAL OTHER MINISTERS VISITED THE CAMP TO INSPECT THE COLLAPSED TENTS AND 180 ALUMINIUM HOUSES, DONATED BY GERMAN ORGANISATIONS, CRUSHED BY THE SNOW.

OTHER PARTS OF JORDAN WERE AFFECTED BY THE SNOW-FALL.

AMMAN AIRPORT WAS CLOSED, SEVERAL MAIN ROADS WERE IMPASSABLE, AND SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED. SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF CASUALTIES. ALTHOUGH 70 PEOPLE, CAUGHT IN THE STORM NEAR THE SYRIAN-LEBANESE BORDER, WERE IN A STATE OF EXHAUSTION WHEN RESCUED.