Syria crisis: Clashes in Jordan’s Zaatari camp

At least 22 Jordanian police have been taken to hospital after clashes with Syrian refugees at the Zaatari camp in northern Jordan, officials say. Authorities denied reports that a refugee had been killed in the unrest. Security forces used tear gas to disperse stone-throwing refugees who had set fire to tents and vehicles. The sprawling camp, which houses some 106,000 refugees, has seen several protests since opening two years ago, mainly over poor living conditions. Zaatari is located in the Jordanian desert, about 12km (7.5 miles) from the Syrian border. It is the world’s second-largest refugee camp – behind Dadaab in eastern Kenya – and has become the fourth largest city in Jordan. Harsh conditions Jordanian authorities said the violence broke out after police arrested a group of refugees trying to leave the camp illegally. “The rioters burned six tents and two caravans and tried to attack police stations,” the Public Security Directorate said in a statement.