The Jordanian cabinet this week gave approval to setting up emergency camps to house an increasing number of Syrian refugees fleeing the violence in Syria.

Jordan's Hashemite Charity Organisation will supervise the refugee camps and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) "will be responsible for all costs", according to the statement by the cabinet.

"The decision was made because of a rapid increase in Syrian refugees coming to the kingdom and this will allow us to deal with [the situation] and provide humanitarian services," said Sameeh al-Maayteh, the Jordanian Minister of State Media Affairs. "This decision also allows for co-ordination of efforts by various agencies in accordance with international law."

The UNHCR has registered more than 31,000 Syrian refugees, including around 5,000 Syrians last week alone. Unofficial estimates, however, put the number at 140,000.

Andrew Harper, the UNCHR representative in Jordan, said the agency increased its budget for operations in Jordan to $23 million to address the rising number of Syrian refugees.

"The UNHCR is monitoring the refugee population that is growing by the thousands on a monthly basis, which has necessitated asking the Jordanian government to allow the UNHCR to set up a new camp for refugees," Harper told Al-Shorfa.

"Available funds are barely enough to cover the growing humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees in Jordan, which is why the commission will finance the new emergency camps," he said.

Harper said the first camp will be in the Mafraq area and will provide shelter for 10,000 refugees.

Increasing pressure on infrastructure

Analysts said Jordan's decision to allow the UN to set up camps for Syrians was made at the right time.

"The increase in the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan has strained the infrastructure in the kingdom including energy and water resources at a time when demand goes up during summer, which prompted the government to consider the situation and make this decision," said Raddad Qallab, a water expert.

"Thousands of refugees are living in different parts, provinces and areas of the kingdom so the decision was made to regulate their presence and [appoint] the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation to supervise the necessary relief and humanitarian work," he said.

He said each refugee costs the Jordanian government about $3,500 per year.

New health services

Shtaiwi Idhemat, chairman of the Ahl al-Jabal charity, said a mobile clinic is one of the services the humanitarian organisation is providing to Syrian refugees in the Badia area.

"This clinic requires effort, time and money, which is why setting up such camps helps to focus efforts in one location to provide humanitarian aid," IDhemat said.

Dr. Abdul Latif Wreikat, Jordan's Health Minister, said Wednesday the estimated cost to provide medical support for Syrian refugees is about 30 million dinars ($43 million).

Erwin Timmerman, the general co-ordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Jordan, signed a memorandum to support health centres at shelters for refugees in al-Ramtha.

The organisation will support a new health centre in downtown al-Ramtha in a building provided by the Municipality and will start offering services July 15th.

The organisation also rehabilitated the building, which has been staffed with doctors, nurses, pharmacists and a social and psychological counsellor. It also provides medical and psychological consultations, medical testing, counselling for pregnant women and free vaccinations for children.