Thousands of Iraqi refugees living in Jordan, displaced from their homeland from over 5 years of violence and turmoil, are receiving blankets through World Vision partners in Jordan. The blankets will help these families cope with the continuing cold nights, and when the temperature rises, the blankets will be used as mattresses.

Many refugee families just don't have mattresses,' said Khalil Jaar, the head of one of World Vision partner agencies in Jordan, Messengers of Peace. The majority of Iraqi refugees are living in very basic housing and are forced to cope in tiny, dark rooms of bare concrete, with no furniture or carpets.

'This winter has been particularly harsh for these refugees in Jordan, many of whom still struggle just to feed their families properly,' said Nidal Qsar, World Vision Jordan Logistics Manager. 'These blankets will be part of World Vision's work to help ease some of the burdens they face daily.'

Hundreds of thousands of refugees were forced to weather a long, harsh winter, living in cold and damp apartments in the slums of Jordan. Spiralling fuel costs meant that many refugees could not afford to heat their homes for more than a few hours a day, even as one of the coldest winters for 50 years descended on the Middle East.

Through funding from World Vision Canada's Gift Catalogue, World Vision is distributing more than 2,250 blankets to refugees in need, through our local partners. Over 1,000 families in Amman and Zarqa will receive two thick double blankets each to prepare themselves for the winters ahead, and to provide a comfortable mattress for them to sleep on.