Thousands of Syrian refugees will be able to light their homes, charge their phones and chill their food by solar power as Jordan's Azraq camp became the world's first refugee camp to be powered by renewable energy, the UN refugee agency said on Wednesday.
Each family in almost 5,000 shelters in the desert camp will be able to use electricity generated by a solar plant.
A Syrian refugee turns on his fan and TV set inside his housing at the Azraq refugee camp, about 100 km from Amman, Jordan. /UNHCR Photo
"Lighting up the camp is not only a symbolic achievement; it provides a safer environment for all camp residents, opens up livelihoods opportunities, and gives children the chance to study after dark," Kelly Clements, UNHCR deputy high commissioner, said in a statement.
The Azraq camp, in northern Jordan, is home to 36,000 Syrians refugees who will all be able to rely on solar power by 2018, UNHCR said.
IKEA Foundation CEO Per Heggenes turns on the generator of a new solar power plant during an inauguration ceremony at the Azraq camp for Syrian refugees in northern Jordan yesterday. /AFP Photo
The switch to solar power will save the agency 1.5 million US dollars per year and function even if funding dries out, UNHCR said.
The money saved will be invested elsewhere, and could be used to improve sanitation, shelters or organize activities around the camp.
Officials from the IKEA Foundation and the UN refugee agency tour a newly inaugurated solar energy plant. /AP Photo
The solar plant -- which cost almost 9 million euros (10 million US dollars) -- was funded by the IKEA Foundation, which donated one euro to UNHCR for each lightbulb sold in the furniture chain's stores.
The plant will be connected to the national grid and any surplus electricity generated will be sent back for free.
(Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation)
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