12/7/2022
Qatar Charity’s Fan Zone for Syrian refugees in Za’atari Camp had special guests yesterday as they were joined by artists Maher Zain and Humood Alkhuder. The Fan Zone in Za’atari camp forms part of Qatar’s initiative, “Qatar FIFA 2022 for All: Celebrating Football with Refugees and Displaced people” which aims to share the joy of the World Cup with refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), through Fan Zones providing World Cup match screenings in numerous refugee camps.
In a gesture of support for the Syrian refugees at the Za'atari Camp, artists Maher Zain and Humood Alkhudher paid a surprise visit to hundreds of refugees living in Za’atari Camp in Qatar Charity’s Fan Zone, whereby friendly matches were held between children and the artists, and songs performances were held. The event was also attended by sports commentator Swar Al-Dahab, who provided real-time commentary of the friendly match held between the two artists and the children from the refugee camp.
“This has been an incredible experience, I am immensely humbled to have been able to join refugees in Za'atari Camp, to enjoy the football matches together, sing together and play football together. I am happy to have been part of an initiative that aims to extend the joy of the World cup to refugees and displaced persons. This is a special moment to remember that no one should be left behind,l commented Maher Zain.
“It has been a great pleasure to join girls and boys from Za’atari refugee Camp and spend the day with them, we have been received with warm hospitality, we are happy to have been able to contribute to bringing joy to the youth in the fan zone,” said artist Humood Alkhuder.
Located in northern Jordan, Za'atari refugee camp is the largest refugee camp in the Middle East and one of the largest in the world. Opened in 2012, Za’atari camp currently hosts around 80,000 Syrians who have been forced to flee the war in Syria.
Qatar Charity (QC) is supervising World Cup Qatar 2022 fan zones in 6 countries: Jordan (Zaatari camp), Syria (Al-Kaiba camp, Al-Rai city), Kenya (Dadaab refugee camp), Bangladesh (Basan Char Island camp) and Somalia (Shabelle camp in the city of Gerowe). The initiative aims to extend the joy of the World Cup in refugee camps housing internally displaced persons and to restore a sense of normalcy through daily screenings of the World Cup matches, sports and entertainment activities for children and youth, food distribution and other activities.