Supporting the nomads of Jordan’s Southern Desert

In his second blog for Islamic Relief, regional media creator for the Middle East and Eastern Europe Khaled Al-Wakeel, explains how we are working with remote communities in Jordan.

During Ramadan, I found myself in Islamic Relief Jordan’s office contemplating the immense joy of being a person who contributes to the noble work Islamic Relief does. While discussing this with my colleague Hothaifa, who heads Islamic Relief Jordan’s public relations department, I learned that he was responsible for coordinating aid distributions deep in the desert, a place we refer to as ‘Al-Badiyah.’ (Badea).

These distributions reach individuals who are truly disconnected from any nearby cities in Jordan — essentially the nomads of our time. They have been living in Badea since long before the nation of Jordan came into being.

The conversation with Hothaifa made me realise that our donors may not know about the profound impact their generous giving is having on the lives of these people. So, I decided to write about this in my blog this month.

Bringing healthcare to Jordan’s remotest corners

Islamic Relief’s Jordan office has an agreement with the Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badea (HFDOJB) which is a royal local initiative focusing on the development of Badea.

Through this agreement, we provide services to people in the Southern Desert in addition to our annual Ramadan and qurbani food distributions. We address all of the community’s essential needs, considering that they live off the grid.

Our mobile clinic travels to the desert on predetermined dates, agreed upon with the residents there. It not only offers primary healthcare services (checkups, consultations etc.), but also arranges surgical referrals for those in need. My colleagues shared with me the prayers they hear from residents each time they visit and the great need for this kind of service in the area.

Education: A right for all

Education is of paramount importance, and Islamic Relief also provides support in this area. Along with our mobile health centre, we also run a mobile education bus, which is a fully equipped classroom with tables, chairs, board, and computers, that travels into the desert.

Seeing the challenging conditions in which our nomadic brothers and sisters live, it’s incredible to know that last year, a girl from the Southern Desert achieved the highest score nationally in high school exams.
She mentioned studying through the night with only the light from an oil lantern. To me, this is an incredibly inspiring story that illustrates the power of determination and the ability to overcome any obstacle.

Economic support

Economic support is crucial for the Badea nomads, and we extend our assistance through cash distribution and livelihood projects. However, these efforts aren’t limited to the southern parts of Badea, we also include Arab nomads from the middle and northern regions of Jordan.

Our goal is to improve living conditions and supply essential tools and services to empower members of the communities we serve to earn a reliable living.

Climate change has affected life in Badea, so we ensure our projects keep up with the challenges communities face.

During the cold winter months, temperatures in the desert can drop dramatically, more so in recent years due to the effects of global warming. We provide fuel, blankets and other essentials to help families stay warm in winter.

Additionally, the area faces flash floods during periods of heavy rain, making the nomads who live there one of Jordan’s most vulnerable groups in relation to the climate change challenges Jordanians encounter in our daily lives.

With your help, we can reach EVERYONE

Learning about our work in Badea has encouraged me to take part in the next scheduled visit to the south. I want to learn more about our work and hear the stories of the people we support firsthand. I hope to share these with you in a future blog.

Without the generous support of our donors and partners, we wouldn’t be able to reach such geographically remote communities. Your assistance enables us to do even more and make a lasting impact.

Together, we can extend our reach and provide aid to those in need. Please donate now.

Khaled is one of our regular bloggers. Each month, he’ll share stories from his work with Islamic Relief.