From Tent to Makeshift Housing: A Case Study of a Syrian Refugee in Zaatari Camp (Jordan)
Résumé
Strict regulations have been imposed in the Syrian
refugee camps in order to avoid any form of permanent settlement. Despite these constraints, a city has
emerged out of the dynamism of its inhabitants. As
soon as the camp opened, an informal economy developed throughout the different neighbourhoods of
the camp. From the main entry gate, a shopping street
developed (Fig. 1), with many shops of all kinds: mobile phone shops, clothing and wedding dress stores,
groceries, bakeries, small restaurants, hairdressers
and so on. Street vendors stroll around the camp
selling all kinds of products or sandwiches. Close to
many facilities established by NGOs, this shopping
street is frequented by a large number of refugees. It
has become a central living space symbolizing their
economic dynamism.