This is at once a fun read and an annoying read at IRIN News (a ‘humanitarian’ news outlet connected with the UN).
Photo: Areej Abuqudairi/IRIN
It’s fun to see how cleverly some Syrians are turning their situation into a study in how capitalism develops (albeit skewed a bit by the freebies from donors) when left to their own devices and where there is virtually zero regulation and zero taxes.
It’s annoying when you consider the author of this piece (or at least the editor) focused on the “haves vs. the have-nots” aspect—your classic commie orientation.
And, some of you might be put off by the fact that the Syrian entrepreneurs are using donated items in their commercial ventures.
Here is how the article begins, but read the whole thing and note how ‘clever’ these Syrian Capitalists have become. (Emphasis is mine)
ZA’ATARI, 8 October 2013 (IRIN) – Just over one year ago, thousands of white tents were erected near the Jordanian-Syrian border to “temporarily” host Syrian refugees who had fled violence in their country. Waves of refugees have since flooded the desert camp; Za’atari is now Jordan’s fourth largest city and the world’s fourth largest camp, home to 120,000 Syrian refugees.
To accommodate the population’s needs, a market has sprung up along the main road at the entrance to the camp, extending over several kilometres, with grocery stores, clothing boutiques, restaurants, bakeries, cafés, electronic shops and barbers all available.
This frenzy of commerce has spawned winners and losers, buyers and sellers, haves and have-nots, honest traders and outright thieves.
Such divisions have fuelled resentment, particularly as those better off are viewed as taking advantage of the aid system at the expense of those living at the edge of survival, in an environment with very little security or regulations.
No regulations, no taxes, no rent, no electric bills and no child labor laws! Here is one of many anecdotes that amused me:
To be able buy groceries from the Za’atari market, Zubi sends her 13-year-old son to work.
He stands with a wheelbarrow in the middle of the market, offering to wheel purchases or aid materials to residents’ homes. Depending on the distance of the trip, Mohammad Kahir earns between 0.50 to 2 dinars ($0.70-$2.80) per trip.
Just fyi, there are dozens of new (and predictable) stories in my alerts today about Syrian refugees—most are dire warnings about people starving/freezing/drowning, mean-spirited governments not taking them in, and that the number is going to grow exponentially.
For all of our coverage of Syrian refugees, go here. Between Somalis and Syrians we are never at a loss for stories to post!